Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has pledged to transfer devolved functions to county governors within the next six months.
Gachagua stated that they would complete their mandate within a six-month deadline after chairing the 18th Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) at the Kenya School of Government in Lower Kabete.
He also stated that his office would promote intergovernmental relations by empowering the Council of Governors as required by law.
“We have discussed over the transfer of functions and we have confirmed to the council that the Ruto administration has the political goodwill to hasten the transfer as per the constitution and we have given ourselves a deadline of six months,” he stated.
“We have confirmed that intergovernmental relations are anchored in the office of the DP, but we have agreed they will be a dead arm to the executive order so that the CoG is properly anchored by law,” Gachagua added.
Concerns had been raised about the role of the Council of Governors (CoG) in the new government, prompting the announcement.
CoG chairperson and Kirinyaga county governor Anne Waiguru, outgoing Cabinet Secretary for Treasury Ukur Yatani, and Nandi governor Stephen Sang were among those in attendance.
The DP emphasized that the government is committed to timely disbursement of funds to the county government.
The counties that received larger shares of county cash allocations would be prioritized by the national government, he said.
