Government Leaders snub DP Ruto’s meeting
The Deputy President has the mandate to chair the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) as per the constitution. Today the Deputy President Dr. William Samoei Ruto chaired the IBEC meeting and the attendance has led Kenyans having a discussion on it. According to the 2010 constitution, the leaders forming the council include CS Treasury, CS Devolution, chairperson of the Commission on Revenue Allocation, Chairperson Council of Governors, Judicial Service Commission representative, Parliamentary Service Commission representative and Governors.
The role of IBEC is to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation between the national government and county governments. Many government leaders snub the meeting. Among those who skipped the meeting include the Treasury CS Ukur Yatani. Those who attended include the CS Devolution, Chairperson Council of governors, governors from Laikipia, Kirinyaga, Kisumu, Busia, Turkana, Baringo, Bomet, Uasin Gishu, Kericho. Chairperson on Commission for Revenue Allocation, Controller of Budget, PS Treasury, PS Devolution together with county executive members were also in attendance.
Laikipia Governor Nderitu Muriithi is the only governor aligned to President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga who attended the meeting. The snub of the meeting from the government leaders is linked to fall out between President Uhuru and his Deputy William Ruto. There has been cold blood between the President and his Deputy since the inception of the handshake between the President and Raila Odinga. Deputy President William Ruto believed that the handshake had an ill motive of changing the constitution through the BBI initiative so as to add more positions in government to suit them. He went against it and he didn’t hide his anger when he was kicked out of government by delegating his duties to his junior, CS interior.
His stand didn’t sit well with the President and went through humiliation whenever he tries to hold rallies, to an extend of being denied private travel to Uganda. His security detail was downgraded from GSU to normal Administration Police officers. His allies were humiliated through corruption cases and many leaders do not like to associate with him due to fear of frustration and humiliation by the government. Anytime, a leader is seen hanging out with the Deputy President, the EACC files comes along.
