It cannot be that a constituency like Ruiru, with a population of about 800,000, its given similar amount of CDF like a constituency with 14,000 people. Is it fair? We want equality and equity. We want fairness in sharing of revenue because it is the right thing to do – Rigathi Gachagua.
In a statement that echoes BBI – a pet project of retired President Uhuru – Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has stunned both friend and foe by announcing that he will lead the campaign for the one-man-one-vote-one-shilling revenue.
Speaking in Embu County of Sunday, DP Gachagua was cheered on when he said he will lead the campaign o ensure that Mt Kenya got a fair share of the national resources.
This was a key proposal in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) that was trashed by now President Ruto and the entire United Democratic Alliance (UDA) including Rigathi Gachagua who was serving as the Mathira MP.
After the BBI project was defeated through court cases fronted by UDA, retired President Uhuru at the time warmed those in Mt Kenya that opposed the proposals would come to regret sooner than later.
It now appears those who vehemently opposed BBI are now the ones on the forefront of pushing for its full implementation – indicating a big turnaround in politics.
“In matters of revenue sharing, I am a believer, a proponent of one-man-one-vote-one-shilling. Resources are about the people. The whole issue of resources is about the people. The more you are, the more taxes you pay. It goes without saying, the more taxes you pay, the more you should get,” said the DP.
He spoke on Sunday during the Consecration of Assistant Bishop Dr John Kimani Nthiga at ACK Cathedral of St. Peter’s Mbeere Diocese in Siakago town, Embu County.
The DP said the formula is a development agenda that must be pursued for the region to get an equitable share of the shareable allocation.
“We have no apologies to make. We want equality and equity. We want fairness in sharing of revenue. We will be pushing that agenda not because we come from a region that has a high population but because it is the right thing to do,” he added.
He also said the region deserved a share of the Equalisation Fund for the benefit of areas that deserved it for development.
“I agree on the need to allocate funds from the Equalization Fund. We have areas in this region like Mbeere, Kieni, Ndeiya that are literally semi-arid and have been forgotten. We must work on this so they receive these funds,” indicated the DP.
The Consecration was presided over by ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit.
Present were Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, Senator Alex Mundigi, MPs Geoffrey Ruku (Mbeere North), Nebart Muriuki (Mbeere South), Eric Karemba (Runyenjes), County MP Pamela Njoki, Gitonga Mukunji (Manyatta), Martha Wangari (Gilgil), former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti, County Assembly Speaker Josiah Thiriku, MCAs among others.
The Deputy President also emphasized on the importance of unity in Mt Kenya saying it is the best thing they have as a region in pursuit of development.
“Let us all be united. The strength of this region; politically, economically and socially lies in our unity. We must always be united,” he said.
Governor Mbarire said the region deserved more resources because of the huge contribution it is making to the growth of the country’s economy.
“We must push for the one-man-one-vote-one-shilling formula because this region makes the biggest contribution to the economy. We must also benefit from the Equalisation Fund kitty,” the governor said.
Mr Gachagua also asked the National Government Administration Officers not to relent in the war against killer drinks, drugs and substances saying the fight will not stop anytime soon.
“We are winning this battle. We will not allow poisonous drinks and substances that were intended to destroy our people. We are not stopping, not this year, not next year, we will intensify the fight until our country is free of these poisonous drinks,” he reiterated.
The Deputy President later addressed residents of Embu town and Kagumo in Kirinyaga County.
