Former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri has voiced his opposition to a proposal by some leaders to distribute the national resources based on land mass. The former lawmaker criticized this as a selfish campaign, advocating instead for resource allocation based on population. He emphasized the importance of the government ensuring equitable distribution of resources among regions, rather than equal distribution.
"On the issue of one-man-one-vote one shilling, we are not saying that the allocation should be made based on population but the votes,'' Ngunjiri said.
During an interview with KTN News, Ngunjiri asserted that certain leaders advocating for the "one kilometre one vote one shilling" mantra are being deceitful.
"On the issue of One Man One Vote One shilling- Why should some people get more than others?" Ngunjiri said.
"Let us be equal with that one shilling.''
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Some leaders have recently advocated for the distribution of national resources to be determined by land mass. They argue that the existing formula, which considers factors including population, is discriminatory and marginalizing. However, Ngunjiri questioned why these leaders prioritize resource allocation based on geographical distance rather than advocating for the empowerment of their constituents.
"What we need is to empower those regions through the equalisation fund because they have a very huge potential," he said.
Ngunjiri noted that the government has already addressed the needs of sparsely populated regions by allocating billions through the equalization fund.
"Some MPs pocket over Sh2 million a month in mileage allowances yet they don't go to their constituencies yet those who go home every weekend get nothing," he claimed.
Members of Parliament receive transportation facilitation from the house through mileage reimbursements, determined by the distance from Nairobi to their constituencies. Presently, MPs only need to file mileage claim forms with the transport department and submit applications to the Parliamentary Finance Department for reimbursement.
Ngunjiri stressed the importance of ensuring equitable distribution of resources across regions based on population.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua recently underscored the necessity of the "one man – one vote – one shilling" principle, asserting it would guarantee fair resource distribution throughout Kenya.
“In matters of revenue sharing, I firmly believe in one-man-one-vote-one-shilling. It’s a straightforward concept: the more people there are in an area, the more taxes they contribute and the more funding they deserve to receive,” Gachagua said.
