President William Ruto has assured governors that his administration has no plans to take over county government responsibilities.
Speaking on Friday, May 9, Ruto noted that his focus remains on national priorities, adding that he can only support the devolved units.
"To give assurance to my colleagues, the County Governors, I have no intention whatsoever to take over any County Government functions.
"My hands are already full; I have too many things to deal with. I can only play a supportive role in making sure that when counties succeed, Kenya succeeds,” he added.
This comes about two weeks after Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o accused Ruto’s administration of undermining devolution.
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In a statement on Tuesday, April 22, Nyong’o argued that actions by the Ruto administration reflect leadership styles that predate the 2010 Constitution.
He warned that such moves threaten the goals of building a democratic and developmental state.
“The truth is that the Ruto regime has decided to go back to pre-devolution times of the Nyayo era. The 2010 constitution is a hindrance to its primitive accumulation schemes, which will affect not only devolution but the very ethos of building a national democratic and developmental state," he said.
Nyong'o defended the efficiency of county governments in managing services such as health, compared to the national government.
“The counties manage health effectively and efficiently. The national government cannot even manage Kenyatta National Hospital: one of the very few health entities in its hands,” he noted.
Nyong'o's criticism came in the wake of Ruto's plea to MPs and governors to let the national government take charge of the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF).
While speaking in Narok County on Sunday, April 20, the head of state called for unity in managing the levy to make it more efficient.
“I want to ask MPs and governors who are here; I know there is a dispute over the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund between counties and Members of Parliament. If you leave the roads maintenance levy fund to me, I can get more money for constructing all the roads.
"I'm asking you, although it's not mandatory, to accept that proposal so that we can use that money in ways that can benefit Kenyans," he said.
