The formula used by the Commission on Revenue Allocation to allocate revenue and resources to the national and county government based on the development needs is not tenable, Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati said.
Wangamati said most of the big four agenda fall under counties and there was need to relook at the proposed second generation formula with a view to increase allocation especially to counties like Bungoma that had high population.
Speaking at the county headquarters while issuing scholarships for bright needy students from the region, the governor noted that Bungoma County’s population has grown drastically since the last census hence the need for more resources to be allocated.
“The Commission on Revenue Allocation should ditch the current second generation formula and adapt a formula where resources will be allocated to counties based on the population of the county. We want a formula that takes into consideration, the paramount factor of demography in sharing resources in this country,” he said.
Wangamati said he was positive that 2019’s census will record a considerable increase in the county’s population figures that may place it second after Nairobi County and raise its stakes in the amount to be allocated.
The Governor said he was opposed to North Eastern Counties having more resources allocated to them due to alleged under development saying that resources should be allocated to develop people and not just areas.
The new formula by CRA increased the number of marginalized counties from 14 to 34 based on poverty index.
Meanwhile, the county government has given out scholarships worth Sh43 million to 360 students, eight from each of the county’s 45 wards who performed well in the 2018 KCPE exam to help them join national and extra county schools countrywide.
By Gabriel Omolo