NAIROBI, Kenya- National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has intensified pressure on the Council of Governors (CoG) to drop their legal case over the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF).
Describing the litigation as counterproductive, Ichung’wah argues it is stalling critical road rehabilitation projects across the country.
Ichung’wah implored county leaders to cease court actions targeting road agencies such as the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).
He emphasized that such disputes only serve to delay vital infrastructure work funded by the Kenya Roads Board.
“I want to beseech the governors to drop the cases in court. They are not helping them or the country. These cases are holding road rehabilitation hostage because governors want more money,” he stated.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi recently froze RMLF disbursements until the CoG’s case is heard. The governors argue that counties, which oversee local road networks, should rightfully receive funds collected from taxes for road maintenance.
However, Ichung’wah countered, asserting that MPs are best positioned to oversee road project implementation under the Ksh. 10.5 billion fund.
He urged governors to collaborate instead of engaging in what he termed counterproductive legal battles.
Ichung’wah also linked the CoG to the contentious National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) court case.
High Court judges recently declared the NG-CDF unconstitutional, citing improper Senate consultation and concerns over the constituency’s role as a development delivery unit.
“The Council of Governors played a significant role in the NG-CDF case. We can see the nexus between the legal teams representing them in that matter and those handling the roads fund case,” Ichung’wah alleged.
The court’s decision has left MPs facing significant challenges, as the NG-CDF budget is vital for constituency development. The lawmakers have vowed to appeal the ruling and seek a stay pending further legal proceedings.
