President Ruto Meets Governors to Review Development Projects and Address County Concerns
Nairobi, The Gulf Observer: President William Ruto on Wednesday hosted a high-level consultative meeting with governors at State House to review the progress of key intergovernmental development projects and foster greater collaboration between the national and county governments.
A key focus of the evening meeting was the digitisation of public health facilities — an ambitious initiative aimed at eliminating fraudulent hospitals that have long siphoned public funds through illegal means. “This digital transformation will enhance transparency and ensure public resources benefit genuine healthcare institutions,” President Ruto said.
The President also announced a series of reforms in the agriculture sector, including the consolidation of agencies and departments under the Ministry of Agriculture to deepen ongoing agricultural reforms. In line with this, he said the government would enhance animal traceability through livestock farmer registration and introduce an e-voucher system for animal vaccination. These steps build on the successful system already in place for the distribution of subsidised fertiliser.
Additionally, the government plans to leverage Kenya’s strong cooperative ecosystem to unlock the full potential of the agriculture sector — increasing productivity, improving prices, and ultimately placing more earnings in the hands of farmers.
“We will continue consulting frequently as two levels of government to foster a harmonious working relationship,” President Ruto emphasized.
The meeting comes two weeks after the Council of Governors (COG), led by chair Ahmed Abdulahi, called for a sit-down with the President to address pressing issues, including delays in county funding, budget allocations, and overlapping functions between the two levels of government.
The governors expressed concern that their request for KSh536 billion in the 2025/2026 financial year was met with only KSh405 billion in allocations. Moreover, delayed disbursements totaling KSh78.94 billion from March to May remain unsettled.
COG Chair Abdulahi said the shortfall “violates the principle that resources must follow functions” and undermines counties’ constitutional right to adequate funding. He reiterated the call for timely and meaningful engagement with the national government to resolve the issues.
The Wednesday summit signifies a renewed effort to strengthen collaboration and address mutual challenges in the spirit of cooperative governance.
