Opposition Chief Raila Odinga has thrown his support behind the “one man, one shilling” policy advocated by some Mt. Kenya leaders, calling it the best route for equitable resource distribution in Kenya.
In a move likely to stir political controversy, the Azimio la Umoja leader stated that the policy, which seeks to allocate more government resources to populous regions, is fair and just.
Raila dismissed claims that the policy is discriminatory, arguing instead that it ensures resources are distributed equitably.
This policy debate was initially sparked by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and has been a contentious issue, with many allies of President William Ruto accusing Gachagua of causing division within the country.
“I want to agree with the phrase one man one vote one shilling. I agree totally with this,” Raila said during a media briefing on Thursday.
He made these comments while hosting convenors of the Limuru III conference at Chungwa House. Raila emphasized that devolution is about equity in resource sharing, not equality. He stressed that resources should be allocated based on population to ensure that services reach the people effectively.
Raila added that this issue has been misunderstood and misrepresented as discriminatory against some parts of the country. He stated that the policy is intended to ensure that every Kenyan receives a fair share of resources created through collective effort.
“It cannot be right that some children get more bursary than learners in other parts of the country. This is a conversation if we have it openly, we will be able to convince our people that this is the right way to go. That is why we had proposed it in the BBI,” he stated.
Present at the event were Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni and former Laikipia Governor Nderitu Muriithi, who presented Raila with resolutions from the Limuru III conference. Muriithi called on the national government to curb wasteful expenditure and channel those resources to county governments.
“Wasteful expenditure at the national level should stop. Duplication of functions should stop. Those resources should follow functions at the county level,” Muriithi said.
Deputy President Gachagua has been a vocal supporter of the “one man, one vote, one shilling” revenue-sharing deal, asserting that it would benefit the Mt. Kenya region. He has urged residents to scrutinize politicians’ positions on the matter and to view those against the proposal as adversaries.
However, leaders from the Northeastern region have voiced concerns that the policy would further marginalize their communities. Some Meru leaders have also opposed the revenue-sharing formula, arguing it would disadvantage certain counties.
Under the current revenue-sharing formula, population accounts for 45%, basic equal share 25%, poverty 20%, land area 8%, and fiscal responsibility 2%. Politicians from Mt. Kenya argue that this formula leaves heavily populated counties with insufficient funds for development.
