Cabinet Secretaries and governors have on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, given a key forum chaired by Deputy President William Ruto a wide berth in what is a continuation of the bitter fallout between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy.

Only Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok, who doubles as chairman of William Ruto’s presidential campaigns attended the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) chaired by the DP at his Karen official residence.

Others were PS Devolution Julius Korir, Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o, representatives from the National Treasury, Ministry of Devolution and County Executive Committee Members.

The 17th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) was meant to discuss strategies to increase the counties’ Own Source Revenue which has been dwindling in the recent past.

“Own Source Revenue is a sleeping giant that can unlock the economic potential and growth of counties. We endorse the partnership between the Office of the Controller of Budget and the United Nations Capital Development Fund that will enhance the generation of own revenues, thereby help tackle the problem of pending bills,” DP Ruto tweeted after the meeting.

Ruto’s allies skip key forum

The Council of Governors Chairman and Embu Governor Martin Wambora, a constituent member of the IBEC led a host of governors in skipping the meeting. Governor Wambora is also DP Ruto’s ally in Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

Others who skipped the event included Commission for Revenue Allocation Jane Kiringai, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, and Judiciary chief registrar Anne Amadi.

Ruto had invited Treasury CS Ukur Yatani, James Macharia (Transport), George Magoha (Education), Peter Munya (Agriculture), and Eugene Wamalwa (Ag Devolution) but they did not attend.

Yatani, a permanent member of the council due to his Treasury CS position, is out of the country.
This was the 17th ordinary session of the council that meets twice a year and is chaired by the DP.
In his absence, the Treasury CS assumes its leadership.

Both CSs Munya and Wamalwa are key allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta, who have been critical of the DP and leading figures of Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga. The chairperson decides when the council meets, and its agenda, in consultation with other committee members.

Those elected to the committee serve for a term of two years and can be re-elected for an additional term.

The council provides a forum for consultation and cooperation between the national government and county governments on budget documents, among other economic issues.

The council comprises the Deputy President, Treasury and Devolution CSs, representatives from the Parliamentary Service Commission and Judicial Service Commission, Council of Governor’s chair, Commission on Revenue Allocation chair, and County Executive Committee members for Finance from all counties.