A showdown looms as more senators vow to oppose the controversial revenue sharing formula which is set to be debated today.
The debate took a regional dimension with four senators whose counties stand to gain from the new formula choosing instead to vote against it in solidarity with colleagues from units bound to lose revenue if the formula is passed.
Senators Mithika Linturi (Meru), Njeru Ndwiga (Embu), Moses Wetangula (Bungoma) and Michael Mbito (Trans Nzoia) joined the group led by Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Mutula Kilonzo Jr (Makueni), and Ledama Ole Kina (Kajiado).
Last week the Nairobi-Makueni-Narok trio rallied 25 senators to shoot down amendments to the formula despite a spirited effort by Majority Whip Irungu Kang’ata to have bill passed.
Senators Linturi and Ndwiga voted against bill in support of Tharaka Nithi which stands to lose revenue while Wetangula was showing support to the neighbouring Vihiga County.
On Monday, a section of senators fingered the Executive for bullying them to pass the controversial formula.
“This is a very sensitive and volatile matter. It’s a matter of life and death for my people but for the interest of my security and of that senate, I will not disclose much at the moment,” Lamu Senator Anwar Loitiptip said.
His Makueni counterpart said that the intimidation had taken the form of threats to promises of money.
“I am shocked that my colleagues are being intimidated because of their stand. I want to reveal to you just like I had earlier indicated on the floor of the House, senators are facing unknown pressure including some operators following them to their house. We are aware,” said the senator who is the Minority Whip.
“We want to tell whoever is behind this, that we are not afraid and our numbers are intact. We are sharing this information as it unfolds,” he added.
On his part, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malalas asked President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga, who have been rallying support for the formula, to leave the matter to senators to shape their legacies.
