A story is told of a wolf at whom human spectators jeers for being outstripped by the hare it was chasing.
By Ndung'u Wa Gathua
The wolf, however, in a classical response replies that they (spectators) should bear in mind the difference between the two contestants. "I was merely running for my dinner, but he (hare) was running for his life".
The short fable perhaps best describes the divide between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto as pertains to the county revenue share formula whose vote has now been adjourned nine times.
Speaking in Nairobi on Friday while issuing title deeds to a section of Embakasi, Korogocho and Mbagathi residents, Uhuru for the first time publicly made clear his stand on the divisive revenue allocation formula.
"This is not my money so that people can say Uhuru has done this and that; this formula came from the CRA and it has gone to the Senate so that the allocation can be done in a fair manner," Uhuru said.
He added: "Truth and justice will prevail and I have no quarrels or arguments with anyone."
The President went on to fault those proposing alternative formulae, noting that the counties being taunted as rich have people living in biting poverty.
"Why would someone in Embakasi and Korogocho who uses flying toilets be told that they are rich and have no right to get more money?" he posed to the title deed beneficiaries who had assembled at KICC.
DP Ruto on the other hand, while speaking at his Sugoi home in Uasin Gishu County at the same time, called on the Senate to come up with a 'win-win' formula.
"It is only fair that when we are looking at the formula, the bigger counties with huge populations should get more resources. But at the same time, we should not forget the small counties. We should also consider the counties that have been marginalised. We need to find a formula in which even if their allocation will reduce, it does so in a way that they will not be affected," Ruto said.
It is crystal clear from the two leaders' respective statements above that each is pulling on a different direction as regards to the final formula that should be used to allocate funds to the counties.
But what you should bear in mind is that their varying positions on the issue is not by accident, but design.
Just like the wolf and the hare, Uhuru and Ruto, have different reasons for their pulling to the opposite directions. While Uhuru is keen on his legacy, Ruto's eyeballs are set on 2022.
Uhuru's push for the CRA formula is seen more as an attempt to try and win back his Mt Kenya backyard where he continues to face fierce backlash occasioned by among other things, accusations of sidelining the region development-wise.
The CRA formula, if adopted, will see most of the region's counties get more revenue allocation. That in itself is a big plus for Uhuru and his legacy in the region. Charity begins at home, he can argue.
It should also be noted that Uhuru stands to lose nothing by pushing for this formula, good or bad, as long as it assures him that on his way to retirement at Ichaweri he won't be stoned by angry Kiambu residents accusing him of not fighting for their interests when he was in power. He is the wolf who is just after dinner.
Ruto, on the other hand, like the hare, this is a matter of life and death! He must tread carefully while attempting to strike a delicate balance. He simply cannot afford to take sides because it would come with a costly price to his 2022 presidential ambitions in terms of voters' support. That is why he insists on a 'win-win' formula.
Now you get the drill as to why the county revenue share divide between the two is a contest of the wolf and the hare, and not the clueless spectators either cheering the hare or jeering the wolf from the periphery unaware why the two 'animals' are running at the pace they are doing.