Governors Form 10-Member Team to Broker Raila, Ruto Truce

COG Chairperson Governor Anne Waiguru speaks during a press briefing at the COG offices in Nairobi on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
CoG Chairperson Governor Anne Waiguru (centre) speaks during a press briefing at the CoG offices in Nairobi on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
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CoG

The Council of Governors (CoG) on Tuesday, May 2, appointed Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka to spearhead talks between the Kenya Kwanza government and Azimio la Umoja team.

Lusaka will lead a 10-member committee of governors that was formed to initiate talks between President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

Members of the executive team include Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga County), Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir County), and Stephen Sang (Nandi County).

Others are Kenneth Lusaka (Bungoma), Fatuma Achani (Kwale), Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri), Simba Arati (Kisii), Joseph Ole Lenku (Kajiado), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), and Ochillo Ayacko (Migori).

President William Ruto addressing Kenyans on Labour Day May 1, 2023
President William Ruto addressing Kenyans on Labour Day Monday, May 1, 2023
PCS

"The purpose of the committee will be to engage the leaders from the two political divides to address the ongoing demonstrations and amicable solutions to ensure stability in the country," read part of the CoG statement.

Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi, CoG Chairperson Anne Waiguru revealed that the move aims to address the current stalemate in the country.

"As the COG, we are concerned about the political stalemate in the country and that is why we formed the 10-member committee of governors to help government and opposition reach an agreement for the sake of Kenya," Waiguru stated during a press briefing in Nairobi. 

CoG intervention came a week after the original bipartisan talks collapsed and Azimio la Umoja returned to the streets for mass actions.

Delayed Funding

Waiguru further explained that CoG had reached a deal with Treasury Cabinet Secretary for prompt disbursement of devolved unit funds.

"National Treasury has so far disbursed February 2023 allocations amounting to Ksh.31.45 billion to the 47 Counties. Currently, the outstanding monies owed is Ksh29.6 billion owed to 47 counties for March 2023 allocation," Waiguru stated.

Additionally, the CoG resolved that the March allocations will be disbursed by May 15, 2023, and April allocations by the end of May.

The disbursements for May and June shall be issued by the first two weeks of June to allow counties to absorb the funds within the financial year.

The CoG also resolved that this year's Devolution Conference will take place in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, between August 15 to 19 August.

"To ensure the full participation of stakeholders in the Devolution space and members of the public, the Council of Governors Committee today launched the online registration for the Devolution Conference which will be held from August 15 to August 19, 2023, in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County," CoG explained in a statement.

A photo of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga addressing a rally on Kibera on March 27, 2022.
A photo of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga addressing a rally in Kibra on March 27, 2022.
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Raila Odinga