Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse has entered the debate surrounding Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s call for a ‘one man, one vote, one shilling” resource allocation model.
Amidst rising concerns that this approach could potentially exacerbate tribalism and regionalism in resource distribution, Mutuse issued a statement urging for a more nuanced discussion.
In his statement to newsrooms, Mutuse emphasized the necessity of adopting a balanced approach that prioritizes equitable development and shared prosperity for all Kenyans.
“The ultimate resource allocation formula must be one which promotes equitable development and shared prosperity for all Kenyans. In my considered view, such a formula must be a weighted/moderated one involving several factors/variables and realities on the ground,” he said.
”Population alone can’t be the only factor, but can be given a higher weight in the simulation. Poverty/development levels, geography, strategic opening up of new economic corridors, historical marginalization among other factors must also be considered so as not to entrench inequalities through laws and policies.”
Citing Kenya’s history, the MP cautioned against the pitfalls of past mistakes, where development planning was exclusionary.
“Taking electricity to buttress this point, current data held by the State Department of Energy shows that many densely populated constituencies have 100 percent connection to the grid, at least for public institutions,” he said.
“The same data shows many sparsely populated constituencies have under 30 percent connection to the grid. Why then would a sober development plan advocate for more resources to a constituency which already has 100 percent electricity connection and not the one with under 30 percent?”
Mutuse further called for the national government development planning and service delivery to be anchored at the constituency level.
“I urge fellow leaders to debate about resources soberly knowing all parts of Kenya are interdependent and growth or otherwise in one part of the country affects the other parts, hence we should all grow together,” he stated.
The MP’s remarks follow Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki’s rejection of DP Gachagua’s “one man, one vote, one shilling” model. Kindiki criticized the proponents of the slogan, including DP Gachagua, for their apparent failure to understand the implications and long-term consequences of the model for the nation.
According to Kindiki, the slogan lacks substance and is not based on scientific or economic principles. He suggested that it seems to have been arbitrarily chosen without proper consideration, and he emphasized that it cannot adequately address the intricate economic challenges facing Kenya.
