Ruto Intervenes to Solve Impasse With Governors

President William Ruto, on Friday, February 10, made a breakthrough in resolving the impasse between him and the Council of Governors after the county chiefs resolved to withdraw all court cases challenging his directives. 

In a meeting in Naivasha, Ruto promised to ensure the timely disbursement of county funds to avoid situations where county operations were left grounded.

Further, the President pledged to collaborate with counties to ensure that they can raise revenue independently as an alternative to the reliance on the exchequer. 

He called for unity and commitment towards working on crucial projects affecting the electorate’s lives as opposed to the frequent back and forth between the two levels of government. 

President William (second from left), Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (left), Governor Anne Waiguru (second from right) and Susan Kihika take a stroll at the Naivasha Enashipai Hotel during an intergovernmental summit held on February 11, 2023.

William Ruto

‘We have undertaken to ensure that the transfer of revenue is timely, predictable and fully complied with by law,” the President committed.

On their part, the 47 governors agreed to work with the national government by exploring avenues of negotiations in resolving disputes between them and the national government.

Council of Governors Chair Governor Anne Waiguru stated that the meeting resolved to end the confusion surrounding the management of functions allocated to state corporations at the devolved levels. 

“We will be withdrawing all the cases filed by the Council of Governors against the national government and also the few cases filed by the national government against us,” Anne Waiguru noted. 

The Naivasha Summit was the second meeting in two months and part of the government’s interventions to resolve the stalemate. 

Whilst the governors demanded Ksh425 billion, the government was adamant that it would only afford Ksh380 billion owing to the economic situation. 

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was on record vowing that the state had nothing more to offer and urged governors to accept the amount offered to them.

Discussions to reach the final agreement on the rightful share were slated to take place on Saturday, February 11, as the meeting with governors enters day two in Naivasha.

DP Rigathi Gachagua (centre), Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru (third from left) during the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) meeting at the Kenya School of Government, Nairobi, on January 26, 2023.

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Rigathi Gachagua