Governors and Cabinet Secretaries skip Ruto meeting

Deputy President William Ruto held a meeting of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) which was attended by nine governors, one Cabinet Secretary and Two Principal Secretaries.

DP Ruto has invited five Cabinet secretaries and the Council of Governors to the meeting held on Monday, November 22 at Karen but only Devolution CS Charles Keter showed up from Cabinet.

County chiefs were represented by Council of Governors Chairman and Embu Governor Martin Wambora, Ndiritu Muriithi (Laikipia), Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Prof Anyang Nyong'o (Kisumu), Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia), Stanley Kiptis (Baringo), Josphat Nanok (Turkana), Prof Paul Chepkwony (Kericho), Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) and Dr Barchok Hillary (Bomet).

Deputy President William Ruto held a meeting of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) Pulse Live Kenya

Controller of Budget Dr Margaret Nyakang’o, Chairperson of the Commission for Revenue Allocation Dr Jane Kiringai, PS Treasury Dr Julius Muia, PS Devolution Julius Korir, and County Executive Committee Members were also in attendance.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, the ODM's Deputy Party Leader, had previously indicated that he would not attend the meeting, citing Ruto and Raila's animosity.

"I will not be present...The battle lines have been set, and each person must stay in their designated lane. Raila Odinga has my complete support,” he said in a November 14 interview.

The council approved Laikipia County's request to borrow nearly Sh1 billion from the international market, making it the first county to do so since devolution began.

The meeting also approved a Sh370 billion allocation to counties.

“The Treasury together with the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) did recommend that the shareable revenue due to the counties be at the last financial year’s level of Ksh370 billion, after discussion and considering many factors including the Covid situation in the country, our debt levels as a nation and the fact that the other alternative measures for raising revenue are not tenable,” Ruto stated at a press briefing following the meeting.