National Assembly leadership and Council of Governors to meet Executive

The National Assembly during one of the sessions. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The leadership of the National Assembly and Council of Governors (COG) is today expected to separately meet the Cabinet and senior ranks of the executive camping at the Fairmont Mt Kenya Safari Club, Nanyuki.

The bringing in of the Assembly leadership, which will include the Majority leadership and chairpersons of different committees, comes as the Kenya Kwanza administration seeks to come up with a roadmap of implementing its manifesto.

Today marks the third day of the retreat that has had Cabinet Secretaries and other top government officials in attendance. The meeting is set to provide an arena for representatives of MPs to state clearly what is expected of CSs when they appear before them to answer questions relating to their departments.

Yesterday, President William Ruto said the session will crystallise his proposal that will see CSs appear before Parliament for accountability.

He said the opportunity to appear before Parliament will not only provide an opportunity for his administration to prosecute its agenda but also ensure accountability.

"An administration is as good as its checks and balances. We are ready to subject ourselves to checks and balances. Through this, we will be able to know when things are going south and rectify," the Head of State said.

At the same time, the President said governors, through CoG, will agree on the way forward on shared responsibilities between the county and the national government.

"I have directed the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National government Kithure Kindiki to ensure that our administration supports both national and county government led programmes," added the President.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa yesterday confirmed that he will be a key note speaker at the event and will outline what the House expects from the Cabinet, especially when they appear before it. Ichungwa said the meeting is timely as it coincides with a time when Parliament is expected to start inviting CSs to respond to various emerging issues.

"Once we resume from recess, we shall table amendments of our Standing Orders to allow Cabinet Secretaries to appear before us. This will be a major milestone in achieving the Kenya Kwanza manifesto. I will take to the podium in Nanyuki to give details of the matter," Ichungwa told The Standard on phone, yesterday.

CoG chairperson Ann Waiguru, who will also be a keynote speaker, said she will take the opportunity to highlight the challenge of timely disbursement of funds to the county governments to reduce pending bills while still meeting recurrent expenditure obligations.

"All programmes are implemented at the county level and it is, therefore, important that we build an effective working partnership with the national government for the development of our country," said the Kirinyaga governor. Waiguru added she will deliberate and come up with possible timelines to fully devolve functions and associated resources to counties as envisioned in the Constitution so as to enhance service delivery to citizens.

The four-day retreat seeks to create synergy between government agencies and the legislature and while at it, make government officers understand the government's bureaucratic procedures and protocols and to understand the flow of communication from State agencies to members of public.

The President said the meetings will be held annually to take stock of what has been achieved after set timelines and to give explain why some programmes are yet to be realised.