Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has underscored the critical importance of enhancing collaboration between national and county governments to ensure the effective implementation of devolution.
Speaking at the 24th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) held at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi County, Gachagua emphasized the necessity of ongoing consultations to keep devolution on track.
The forum, which saw participation from Governors, Cabinet Secretaries, and representatives from various commissions and independent offices, aimed to address and streamline the relationship between different levels of government.
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“It is crucial to continue nurturing smooth working relations between the two levels of Government through frequent consultations to keep the wheels of Devolution rolling towards a better nation,” Gachagua stated.
The Deputy President also highlighted the government’s commitment to resolving pending bills, which have been a significant economic concern.
He reported that over the last financial year, the government managed to clear more than Sh100 billion in outstanding bills. By June 30, 2024, the National Treasury had reduced its national government pending bills to Sh516.27 billion, down from Sh622.82 billion the previous year.
In addition, initial reports indicate a notable decrease in pending bills among 26 counties, from Sh43.6 billion to Sh33.9 billion as of June 30.
Gachagua praised this progress and urged county governments to work closely with the Controller of Budget to implement measures designed to address the issue effectively.
“The improvement in reducing outstanding bills is commendable. I encourage county governments to collaborate with the Controller of Budget to ensure that our budgetary process addresses these issues comprehensively,” he added.