Wamuzi News Ke
In a bold showdown that strikes at the heart of devolution, Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) across the country have forcefully rejected the Senate’s attempt to extend oversight over locally generated revenues—stoking fears of a looming constitutional clash.
At a high-stakes stakeholder retreat held in Kiambu on Wednesday, county lawmakers voiced unanimous opposition to a divisive clause in the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The amendment would grant the Senate authority not only over funds allocated under Article 96, but also over revenue raised within the counties themselves.
“This proposal undermines devolution and threatens our constitutional mandate,” declared Nairobi County MCA James Kariuki. “County Assemblies are the rightful watchdogs of local revenue. We cannot and will not cede that power.”
The County Assemblies Forum (CAF), led by Chairperson Seth Kamanza, warned that the Senate’s push would erode decades of devolution gains and sow jurisdictional confusion. “This isn’t about duplication—it’s a direct attack on the autonomy of county governments,” he said.
In a surprising twist, MCAs threw their support behind another part of the Bill: Article 199A. This provision aims to establish a dedicated County Assembly Fund, ensuring that county legislatures receive guaranteed funding directly from the County Revenue Fund—sidestepping executive interference in their budgetary processes.
“This is transformative,” Kamanza remarked. “For once, county assemblies will control their own destiny—financially secure and constitutionally protected.”
The Senate committee overseeing the amendment will now gather feedback from across counties, with a final report expected before tabling the Bill in the House. But with this fierce backlash, the road to passage is already looking rocky.
