Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has accused Members of Parliament (MPs) of sabotaging devolution by attempting to take control of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF), a Ksh.10 billion allocation meant to support county-level road infrastructure. Speaking on Spice FM, Sifuna decried what he termed as “blackmail” by MPs directed at both Senators and Governors.
According to the Senator, the standoff stems from disagreements in the Division of Revenue Bill, where the National Assembly slashed the Senate’s proposed allocation to counties from Ksh.385 billion to Ksh.380 billion. He claimed MPs used the RMLF as leverage during mediation talks, threatening to withhold support for the revenue-sharing deal unless they were given authority over the fund.
“I remember Ndindi Nyoro was the lead from the National Assembly and they told us, ‘no RMLF, no division of revenue.’ That is how they hold devolution hostage,” said Sifuna. He added that the delay in passing the bill directly affects counties, which depend on the revenue to function.
The dispute has caught the attention of President William Ruto, who has urged legislators to allow him to oversee RMLF disbursement. Speaking during a church service in Narok, Ruto argued that centralized control would ensure efficient road construction, noting that fragmented allocations lead to substandard work vulnerable to weather damage.
However, Senators have remained firm, siding with Governors and vowing not to pass the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill, 2025, without the inclusion of RMLF. Members of the Senate Finance Committee echoed this stance, emphasizing that the fund rightfully belongs to counties.
On the other side, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah defended the MPs’ position, saying they aim to protect the funds from mismanagement by Governors. “RMLF is a live wire in this House that you will never touch,” he declared.
Council of Governors Chairman Ahmed Abdullahi said the issue is currently before the courts, expressing optimism for a favorable ruling that will preserve county control over the crucial infrastructure fund.
The RMLF impasse signals deeper tensions in Kenya’s evolving devolution framework and raises concerns over the balance of power between national and county governments.
