The 11th session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council held on 29th January 2019 chaired by the Deputy President H.E. William Ruto gave the opportunity to County Governments to advocate for increased budgetary allocation by the National Government. Further, they deliberated on ways to own source revenue generation and the pending bills among other critical issues. The Deputy President while opening the 11th session of IBEC, congratulated the new CoG leadership and called for cordial working relations with National Government to ensure that services are delivered to all Kenyans.

While addressing the meeting, the Chairman Council of Governors, H.E. Wycliffe Oparanya noted that a reduction of County equitable share for the FY 2018/19 by a tune of Kshs. 9.04bn will have serious implications on essential service delivery in the Counties. Further, he noted that monies had already been budgeted and expensed.

In the same meeting, Cabinet Secretary National Treasury Mr. Henry Rotich noted that the Own Source Revenue Policy had been approved by Cabinet. “The policy is now at the Government printers and will be ready for Circulation. While the Bill is in parliament for consideration,” he said. The Council of Governors will give feedback on the bill on some outstanding issues that need clarity.

The long standing matter on privatisation of sugar was part of the agenda, The Deputy President directed the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that once the issue of verification of farmers is complete that the 1.9B owed to farmers be paid. Prof. Nyongo, Governor Kisumu County called upon government to direct factories once bailed out to pay the farmers who have delivered cane rather than meeting other obligations. H.E. William Ruto therefore equally directed farmers to stop delivering cane to factories that are not able to honour their end of the bargain.

The Council of Governors, office of the Controller of Budgets and the Commission on Revenue Allocation will further meet to deliberate upon the revenue forecasting base for the FY 2018/19 and the Revenue sharing formula for the FY 2019/20.

The Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) meeting is chaired by the Deputy President of Kenya, H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto. The members include the County governments led by the Chairperson CoG H.E Wycliffe Oparanya, the National treasury represented by CS. Henry Rotich, CS Ministry Devolution and ASAL areas represented b, Controller of budgets Mrs. Agnes Odhiambo, Chair of the Commission on Revenue Allocation Mrs. Jane Kiringai. County Executive Committee members for Finance from the various Counties were also represented in the meeting.