Senate has moved to stop a looming strike by county government workers after they failed to get their July salaries amid the just-ended lawmakers’ stand-off over counties budget.
The delay was caused by the failure to enact the Division of Revenue Act as leaders engaged in a back and forth over counties budget.
The Senate committee on Budget and Finance said before the passage of the contentious Division of Revenue Act, County Allocation of Revenue Act and the Appropriation Act, counties should be supported and given some funding through an administrative process so that they continue to provide services to the people in the interim.
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Last week, county employees threatened to down their tools if they did not get their July salaries by Sunday.
The committee chairman Senator Mohammed Mahamud said it will not be the first time Treasury will be compelled to release funds as precedence was set in 2014/2015 FY when there was a similar stalemate over counties budget.
“When there was delay in the enactment of the Division of Revenue Act, some administrative mechanism was put in place and counties were allowed to access funds. We are now facing a crisis that must be dealt with,” Senator Mahamud said.
He went on: “This House should resolve that the National Treasury is called upon to provide the required funding, similar to what is provided for in the National Government in terms of votes on account for them to draw, at least, up to half of whatever figure that will come, so that they can run their services.”
