JANUARY 25, 2022.

PRESS STATEMENT BY H.E NDIRITU MURIITHI.

RUTO CANNOT BE TRUSTED ON DEVOLUTION:

Last November, in my capacity as the chair of the Council of Governors Finance and Budget Committee, I had the privilege of attending a meeting of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), chaired by Deputy President William Ruto.

At that meeting, Ruto flatly rejected the last push and plea by governors for IBEC to adopt the position that counties be allocated 35 per cent of the national revenue.

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I am therefore appalled, indeed horrified by media reports that Ruto is now promising to increase allocation to counties to 35 per cent of the national revenue.

Devolution is too important to be discussed through politics of deception, lies, omission, distortion, propaganda and misdirection. As I have said before, Devolution is on the ballot in the August 2022 election.

I challenge the Deputy President to come out openly and address Kenyans on where he stands on the question of increasing allocation to counties. He opposed it in the BBI. He also opposed the 2010 Constitution that gave birth to devolution.

The amount of money allocated to each level of government is too important to be taken over by politics of deceit and roadside declarations that the Deputy President is practicing.

As things stand today, Kenyans must treat Ruto’s promises on devolution to individuals and groups, in secret meetings as his usual politics of deceit, lies and distortion.

Kenyans must continue seeing Ruto as an enemy of Devolution and a strong believer in a centralized political system that will force communities to lead delegations to his home to pledge loyalty in return for handouts.

H.E. NDIRITU MURIITHI.

GOVERNOR, LAIKIPIA

CHAIR OF THE RAILA ODINGA CAMPAIGN BOARD.