Cabinet Secretaries allied to both Kenya kwanza and Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya alliance party, state officials, and governors on Tuesday, May 31, skipped Deputy President William Ruto’s meeting.
William Ruto chaired the 17th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) which was meant to discuss strategies to increase the counties’ Own Source Revenue which has been dwindling in the recent past.
Ruto had invited Treasury CS Ukur Yatani, James Macharia (Transport), George Magoha (Education), Peter Munya (Agriculture), and Eugene Wamalwa (Ag Devolution) but none of them attended.
Yatani, a permanent member of the council due to his Treasury CS position, is out of the country.
Others who skipped the event included Commission for Revenue Allocation Jane Kiringai, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, and Judiciary chief registrar Anne Amadi.
The Council of Governors Chairman and Embu Governor Martin Wambora, a constituent member of the IBEC also skipped the meeting.
Wambora is a key ally of the Kenya Kwanza presidential flag bearer William Ruto while Yattani and Wamalwa are all allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Only Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok attended the meeting that was held at Deputy President William Ruto’s Karen official residence.
The 2022 presidential election front runner took to his official Twitter shortly after the meeting to highlight the importance of the meeting that saw the majority of government officials give it a wide berth.
“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,” William Ruto said.
