Ruto Orders Treasury CS To Release Ksh10B To Counties Days After Gachagua's Remarks
The Head of State chaired an emergency Cabinet meeting on Monday morning in response to the impact of extreme weather events as manifested in the above-normal short rains classified by the Kenya Meteorological Department as the El Nino phenomenon.
Marvin Chege 
President William Ruto on Monday, November 27 directed the National Treasury to release an additional Ksh10 billion to county governments this week.
The Head of State chaired an emergency Cabinet meeting on Monday morning in response to the impact of extreme weather events as manifested in the above-normal short rains classified by the Kenya Meteorological Department as the El Nino phenomenon.
A despatch of the meeting obtained by Viral Tea revealed that the Treasury, under Cabinet Secretary (CS) Njuguna Ndung'u, had last week disbursed Ksh10 billion to support county governments in their disaster mitigation programmes.
"To support County Governments in addressing the disaster situations in their respective areas, the National Treasury last week disbursed Ksh10 billion of their shareable revenue.
President William Ruto chairing a cabinet meeting at State House on Monday, November 27, 2023. /PCS
"Cabinet directed the National Treasury to release an additional Ksh10 billion to County Governments this week," read the despatch in part.
The Treasury was also directed to further rationalize the current budget and direct Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to commence reallocation of funds in their budgets to support the emergency response being undertaken by the State
Furthermore, the Cabinet resolved to mobilize a Ksh7 billion contingency fund to curb the effects of El Nino, with which it is implementing various programmes to address the plight of Kenyans across the country.
The funds were appropriated by Parliament under the Contingencies Fund as part of the FY2023/24 budget and Supplementary Appropriations No. I of FY 2023/24.
"The resources committed will be applied to humanitarian response, including distribution and supply of medical commodities, food and non-food items, rehabilitation of infrastructure and resettlement of displaced families," added the despatch.
The State's intervention is being undertaken in a joint effort between the National and Country Governments, and which incorporates the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the National Youth Service (NYS) in operation with the Kenya Red Cross Society. Through aircraft made available by the KDF, medical supplies have been airlifted to the most vulnerable counties.
To support farmers who have been adversely affected, the government has dispersed Ksh500 million to New KCC to mop up excess milk during this rainy season as well as airlifted medical supplies worth Ksh180 million through the KDF and in conjunction with the Wajir county government.
The meeting also resolved to establish an ad hoc Cabinet Committee on Disaster Response under the leadership of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to coordinate the State response.
Coincidentally, it was Gachagua who changed his tune on his pronouncement that the national government released Ksh10 billion to counties to mitigate the effects of the ongoing El Nino rains.
The saga began on Tuesday, November 21 when Gachagua, during his visit to Mombasa where he distributed relief food to families affected by floods, indicated that the state had released the funds to county governments to support flood victims.
He sparked a row with Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, accusing him of doing little to help families affected by the recent flooding in the coastal county, despite the support from the National Government.
"We don't want any governor to blame the national government for lack of support. Governors too have budgets, and if people are dying, what use is that money in the bank?
"They should suspend all programs and help the people with food, blankets, and medical supplies. We will go back to development once we are through with this crisis," Gachagua declared in Mombasa.
Governor Nassir however responded by defending his administration's actions and denying claims of negligence on his part, asserting that the County Government of Mombasa had managed its disaster response using internal revenue sources and support from organizations such as the Red Cross and other NGOs.
Nassir called for an investigation into the alleged disbursement of Ksh10 billion by the National Government, questioning its destination and emphasizing that it did not reach the counties.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua speaking during the 40th Annual Seminar of the ICPAK in Mombasa on November 21, 2023. /DPPS
Amidst a sharp response from the Council of Governors (CoG) on the matter, Gachagua fired back by proclaiming that the national government would not release funds to the counties, adding that the funds would be channelled through county coordination teams, development partners and humanitarian agencies.
"We are shocked to see governors complaining that they are yet to receive money for El Nino from the national government; such money is not coming. They are expected to use emergency money within their financial provision or reallocate money within their budget to intervene for the people they govern," he affirmed.
![Raila's Chief Agent Goes Viral Amidst Chaos At Bomas [VIDEOS]](https://viraltea.co.ke/uploads/images/2022/08/image_380x226_62f80a991cc05.jpg){kind=small}
