My administration has no room for failures, President Uhuru Kenyatta tells Cabinet

By JOB WERU

The President has told Cabinet secretaries that their ministries must work within budgets.

At the same time, the President put his Executive team members on notice, saying his administration has no room for failures.

The President, his deputy William Ruto, Cabinet secretaries and their principal secretaries are meeting at the exclusive Mt Kenya Safari Club, Nanyuki for a three-day retreat.

The retreat comes one year after the Jubilee government came to power, and it is expected to take stock of the gains and weaknesses Government has encountered in its first year in office.

In his opening remarks, Uhuru read the senior Government officials the riot act, saying they must strive to achieve and clear the Government of any blame.

He also warned that the Government would not tolerate secretaries who rally back to Government mid-year, asking for extra funding.

The President warned that the Government has set up the Contingency Fund, which is only meant for emergencies.

“Once we finalise with the budget making process, there will be no more coming back for more budgetary allocation. We are trying to do away with the supplementary budget and (so) you must put your plans in place now,” he said.

He continued: “We have only one Contingency Fund and it is not for ministries to come mid-year and ask for extra funding. If you did not factor some programmes during budget making, you should not ask for more funds since you never wanted them in the first place.”

He ordered the ministers to prioritise Government projects and implement them to success, adding that Kenyans have supported the Government as it implements its agenda.

Uhuru said he and Mr Ruto appointed the secretaries and their principals on the basis that they will work and ensure results for Kenyans.