Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya has gone on a wild rant and slammed the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga following his statement on the stalemate regarding the Division Revenue Bill currently before a mediation committee.
In a statement late on Friday night November 15, 2024, Salasya claimed that Raila is orchestrating a scheme to deprive MPs off the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) and Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) and reduce them to beggars.
The vocal MP warned that if Raila’s sentiments were actualised, MPs would be forced to start pleading with President William Ruto for development projects.
“After him realising he could not auction independent-minded MPs like me to Ruto he wants CDF to go so that he can auction all of us to worship Ruto to beg for development in our regions,” Salasya’s statement read in part.
Salasya went on to describe Raila as an opportunist who pursues his vested interests by calling on mass action and other forms of picketing.
He wondered how Raila suddenly supported all Kenya Kwanza’s plans, even those that had attracted concerns from Kenyans.
Nonetheless, Salasya maintained that Kenyans are now aware of Raila’s game plan and will not fall for it.
“He even supports Adani,he is now supporting the rejected finance bill .ukora wa mzee tushaujua .He uses maandamano to threaten any government now no one will believe him to go for his maandamano,” Salasya wrote on his X page.
Raila blast MPs
His sentiments come hours after Raila blasted MPs for attempting to get powers to determine the revenue allocation shared to counties through a bill tabled before the House.
Addressing the press on Friday, November 15, 2024, the former Prime Minister detailed that a stalemate is currently in play between the MPs and senators due to the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill, 2024.
The bill, sponsored by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, seeks to provide for equitable revenue sharing among the national and county governments.
In the bill, the MPs recommend a Ksh380 billion allocation to counties, a proposal which Raila disputes as he noted that it is in contrast to the Ksh400 billion already stipulated in the Appropriations Act which is currently in force.
The law currently allows for at least 15 per cent (Ksh400 billion) of the national revenue to be allocated to counties.
“In reality, the standoff is about a power grab and assault on the constitution that MPs want to execute and which will amount to a cruel betrayal of the people and the overhaul of our structure of governance,” Raila noted.
“MPs are also scheming to dip their fingers on the more executive projects such as Road Maintenance Levy Fund in addition to the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NGCDF) and the National Govt Affirmative Action Fund. The law assigns three roles to MPs; representation, legislation and oversight,” Raila added.
“Execution or implementation of programs has never been and can never be the job for parliament without creating a serious accountability crisis in our governance system to the detriment of us all.”