The National Assembly has called for control over the Ksh.10.5 billion Roads Maintenance Levy Fund as a precondition to approving Ksh.400 billion in county revenue for the 2024/2025 fiscal year.
This demand has intensified an ongoing negotiation between the Senate and National Assembly regarding county revenue allocation, which remains unresolved nearly six months post-budget approval.
While the Senate proposes an allocation of Ksh.400 billion, the National Assembly supports President William Ruto’s proposed Ksh—380 billion, highlighting a divide on equitable revenue sharing.
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Further complicating matters is a legal case from the Council of Governors, which has led Justice Lawrence Mugambi to temporarily freeze the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund until the case is resolved.
This court decision also suspended the National Assembly’s previous ruling, which denied governors access to funds managed by the Kenya Roads Board.
The 18-member mediation committee tasked with resolving these budget disputes faces tension over this issue. Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo has urged the Senate to engage with the Council of Governors to clarify revenue figures and resolve the court case on the levy fund.
However, Senators, including committee co-chair Ali Roba, have dismissed these calls, stating they lack the authority to influence governors' decisions or intervene in the legal proceedings.
Roba reiterated that the Senate’s role is to uphold devolution rather than mediate between governors and the assembly.
Meanwhile, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, co-chair of the committee, advised legislators to prioritize practical solutions to facilitate bill passage.
He emphasized the need to address underlying issues directly, stating that real progress requires political and technical approaches to unlock these critical funds.
