DP William Ruto calls on Governors, their deputies to end wars

Deputy President William Ruto has asked governors and their deputies to work together to deliver on their mandate to the electorate.

Ruto said there is a need for an end in the tag of war currently being experienced in some counties saying the differences were undermining the spirit of devolution.

In his address during the closing ceremony of Deputy Governors’ Forum in Naivasha, the Deputy President pointed out that governors and their deputies were elected on the same ticket and should work together.

“I need not remind you that you and your governors were elected on the same ticket. So you either swim together or sink together,” said Ruto.

The deputy president called on deputy governors to cooperate with their governors in the execution of roles instead of sabotaging them.

“If you are not ready to be led then you are not material to head. As a deputy president myself, I support my president and it is not a sign of weakness,” he added.

“You cannot succeed your boss by bringing him down. If you undermine your boss the person behind you will also undermine you.”

Ruto expressed satisfaction with devolution noting that though there were friction between the national government and county governments in the initial stages, the relationship has greatly improved.

“According to Article 62 of the Constitution, the National and County Governments are two distinct entities but must work together on the basis of consultation and cooperation not competition to deliver to Kenyans,” he said.

“Even when we do not agree, criticism should be on the basis of support, as part of supporting the government is criticising it when it goes wrong not undermine it.”

He warned public officers against engaging in corruption, wastage and mismanagement of public resources saying it posed the biggest threat to the development of the country.

“The transformation of our country is impeded by those engaged in these vices and who do not mean well for the country. You as deputy governors have a responsibility to ensure that public resources are well used.”

In his speech at the same function, Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow noted that the Senate was working on a Bill named The Murkomen Bill that sets out clear responsibilities for deputy governors.

“It reduces the excessive powers of the office of the governor and strengthens the deputy governors who currently have no clearly defined responsibilities in the constitution,” he said.

Chairman of the Deputy Governors’ Forum Joash Maangi thanked the World Bank for sponsoring the workshop noting that it will go a long way in improving service delivery to the people.

By @benjaminwafula