President Uhuru Kenyatta and governors to discuss insecurity, devolution challenges

President Uhuru Kenyatta will Monday host all 47 county governors in Nairobi for talks on security matters following a recent spate of attacks.

The summit meeting at State House will also discuss the impending dissolution of Makueni County after residents submitted a memorandum to the presidency.

The meeting is an inter-governmental forum that brings together the President, Deputy President William Ruto and the 47 governors to consult on matters affecting that two levels of government.

County chiefs have asked for a role in national security on the back of terror attacks in which dozens have been killed.

Presidential Strategic Communication Unit Director Munyori Buku and Council of Governors (CoG) Chairman Isaac Ruto confirmed the meeting, which will start at 2pm.

The Summit will begin with confirmation of the May 20 meeting, which discussed among other things, national security, the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) report, upgrade of intergovernmental institutions, legislative interventions and challenges such as the water department.

The last meeting also discussed the devolution of roads funding, depletion of forest cover in Kenya, the Public Benefits Organisation Act 2013 and enhanced working relationships.

Monday's meeting will deliberate over intergovernmental structures and secretariat, which include the appointment of members of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee supposed to replace the Transition Authority, which expires next year.

The two levels of government will also consult on the budget of the CoG secretariat.

Both levels of government are expected to review the attacks, particularly in Mandera, that have seen Kenyans butchered by Al-Shabaab militants.

In the last one month, the country has lost about 100 people in incidents of terrorism and cattle rustling. This includes the Mandera attacks that have claimed 66 victims and the Kapedo attacks that claimed the lives of 22 police officers.

Governors and the national executive have in the recent past been at loggerheads over accountability, referendum debates and involvement in security matters.

Governors Sunday held a pre-summit meeting at Boma Hotel to deliberate over the issues affecting counties.

"We agreed to have a Summit meeting twice a year, in April and November," said Governor Ahmed Abdullahi Mohammed, adding that tomorrow's meeting would cover the November one.

The meeting comes at a time constituents of Makueni County have petitioned President Kenyatta to dissolve the county following leadership wrangles that resulted in a successful impeachment motion against embattled Governor Kivutha Kibwana.