Northeastern governors falsely receive Sh15 billion annually

From left Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi together with Mandera’s Ali Roba and Turkana’s Josphat Nanok in a past event.

NAIROBI—A revision report by The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has revealed that the three Northeastern counties have been receiving Ksh15 billion more than their rightful share.

According to KNBS the flawed 2009 census irregularly increased the population of Garissa, Mandera and Wajir by approximately 31%.

“The average household size in the rural areas was higher at 4.5 members compared to 3.3 members in urban areas. Wajir, Mandera and Garissa counties recorded high household sizes of 6.6, 6.4 and 5.5 members, respectively,” reads part of the KNBS report.

A report tabled in the National Assembly last month further revealed that the matter has been a subject of court battles, blocking bureau and the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) from reviewing the allocation to rectify the manipulation of the population data in 2009.

According to findings of a survey in 2016, Mandera’s population of 1,025,756 reduced to 711,000, Wajir’s 661,941 reduced by 202,961 and Garissa also reduced by 191,060 from 623,060.

Leaders from the region have maintained the allocation is deserved, arguing that the region has been marginalised since independence.

Mandera tops the Northeastern counties and is also in the top five list of counties getting the lion’s share and is expected to get ksh10.1 billion in the next financial year.

The Senate Minority Whip, who is also a member of the Finance and Budget Committee, Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, last week tabled a report on the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2018, spelling out the Ksh314 equitable share to counties. He said the true status would be determined in the upcoming census.