DP William Ruto: Sh258 billion county budget final

NAIROBI: Deputy President William Ruto has dismissed the move by MPs to reduce allocations to County government in the next financial year (2015/2016).

Mr Ruto assured County governments that the allocation of Sh 258billion to the counties in the next financial year would not be slashed.

He was responding to calls by Senators Mutula Kilonzo (Jr), Billow Kerrow (Mandera) and Governor Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni) that he (Deputy President) intervenes to have the allocation to the counties remain at Sh 258billion as opposed to Sh 245billion as suggested by MPs.

“I want to assure you that the Sh 258billion we had agreed to be allocated to the counties will go the way it had been planned and no reduction will be done," said Mr Ruto.

Addressing wananchi at Wambuli open grounds in Mbooni Constituency, Makueni County after laying a foundation stone for Wambuli Technical Training Institute, the Deputy President said the Government will ensure the success of devolution for the sake of development at the grassroots.

Mr Ruto also announced that the Government would use Sh 23billion in the construction of Thwake dam in Makueni to provide water for domestic and irrigation purposes in the area.

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“I want to inform you that the Government will use Sh 23billion to construct the Thwake dam so as to provide water for domestic and irrigation purposes." he said.

"We know the greatest challenge here is water and am sure the construction of the dam will be a big relieve to people in this county," added Mr Ruto

He said the construction of the dam will help the residents engage in serious farming among other income generating activities which could uplift their living standards.

The Deputy President at the same time assured Kenyans that the Jubilee administration would serve all Kenyans without discrimination on how they voted during the last general election.

He told leaders to work towards uniting Kenyans instead of dwelling on divisive politics.

“You all know that time for politics is over and it is time we now focus our energies on matters of development," he said.

“I want to assure you that the Jubilee administration will serve all Kenyans irrespective of how they voted during the last elections because this is the Government for the people of Kenya," he added.

“After the last general election what is now remaining is for us to develop Mbooni and the rest of the country," he said.

He said the Government was putting more emphasis on the development of technical education so as to attain its development needs as contained in the Vision 2030.

“We are putting up technical institutes in every constituency with a view to ensuring our youth gets knowledge and skills for the industrialization needs of our country," said the Deputy President.

MPs Kisio Munyao (Mbooni), Rose Museo (nominated) and Francis Mwangangi (Yatta) said they will work closely with the Government in solving the challenges facing the people.

Mr Kivutha said the county governments were ready to work with the national government in service delivery.