Deputy President William Ruto reiterates State's commitment to making devolution a success

Deputy President William Ruto (left), Meru Governor Peter Munya (2nd left) and Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi listen to Philips Company head of sales Silas Wakaba as he explains how newly modern cooking Jiko is economical during the three days Meru Investment and development Forum at Kenya Methodist University in Meru County on June 25 2015. [PHOTO/KIBATA KIHU/STANDARD].

Deputy President William Ruto has restated the Government's commitment to entrench devolution.

Opening the Second Meru County Investment Forum yesterday, Ruto said counties were on course to become the new centres of growth because of devolution.

"The Government continues to provide impetus for the success of devolution and even those who were skeptical in the first place have started to realise this new concept is a runaway success," said Ruto.

He said the initial challenges being experienced were largely because it was a new governance structure that had not been tried before in the country.

"I am proud of having been in a group with the likes of Meru Governor Peter Munya that fashioned a Constitution that gave us devolution," he told the function at the Kenya Methodist University in Meru town.

The DP also congratulated Munya on his election as the Council of Governors' chairman but told him that the national government expected him to improve their working relationship with the second level of government.

Without mentioning the rocky relationship the council had with the national government under former chairman and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, the DP said there should not be any fundamental differences because the national government fully believed it had a mandate to help devolution work.

He termed enhancement of security as a key pillar in helping devolution succeed and said the national government had invested heavily in providing appropriate equipment to the police service. He added that the State had started the fight against radicalisation of youths and religious fundamentalism.

Ruto said the State was keen to ensure all Kenyans had access to electricity and was looking at one million new connections this year after reducing the cost of power by about 30 per cent in the last one year. He announced that Sh890 million would be used to equip five technical colleges in Meru this year including those in Nkabune, Mitunguu and Kerwa areas.

He also promised to use diplomacy to have Miraa exported to Somaliland, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia after an appeal by Munya, who claimed initial reports had shown those countries had a huge market for the produce.

He also agreed to look into ways of unlocking donor money intended for projects under the county government.

According to Munya, unlocking the tedious process would help counties implement numerous development projects, especially at a time when many are facing financial difficulties.