Deputy President H.E Hon. Rigathi Gachagua chaired the 20th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) at his Karen residence in Nairobi County.

Issues discussed during the meeting included pending bills, Revenue allocation, Mining, and sharing of royalties from minerals to counties among others. In his welcoming remarks, the deputy president urged counties to continue supporting the affordable housing project by identifying land for construction of houses emphasizing that the program is a partnership between the National and County Governments.

The bane of drug and substance abuse was also discussed at the forum with the Deputy President noting that the menace has been on the rise. He urged counties to develop a mechanism in partnership with NACADA and the National police service in the issuance of the liquor licensing which he said requires a multi-sectoral approach. He also called on Counties to establish Rehabilitation Centers within their regions.

The deputy president also noted that the Kenya Kwanza administration is committed to enhancing a seamless relationship between the two levels of government.

IGRTC Vice Chair Ms. Saadia Kontoma issued a status update on the ongoing unbundling and transfer of devolved functions, an exercise that is currently at the validation stage that involves the identification and analysis of pending functions due for transfer to the devolved units. The exercise also involved the identification of related attendant resources required for the implementation of the functions.

She noted that IGRTC has identified previously unfunded functions requiring financing, and a review of existing legislations considered to be inhibiting the effective transfer and implementation of devolved functions.

She also briefed the IBEC meeting on the settlement of Liabilities inherited from the defunct local authorities which stood at KES. 53,756,398, 754.25 liabilities as at 27th March, 2023. Counties have been required to offset the liabilities.

In enabling the payments of liabilities, Liquidation options for the settlement of the liabilities by the county government were proposed by IGRTC and adopted by IBEC and SUMMIT for implementation. The options will guide the county governments in settling the liabilities. So far, County governments have been able to offset 5 billion shillings related to the pending bills.

Present during the meeting were IGRTC Vice Chairperson Ms. Saadia Kontoma alongside committee Members Mrs. Angeline Hongo, Linet Mavu, and CEO Agnes Ndwiga. The Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) meeting is chaired by the Deputy President of Kenya, H.E. Hon. Rigathi Gachagua.

The members include the County governments led by CoG Chairperson H.E Ann Waiguru, and the National treasury represented by CS. Prof. Njuguna Ndung'u, CS Ministry of Mining and Blue Economy Salim Mvurya. Controller of budgets, Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC) Chair of the Commission on Revenue Allocation, County Executive Committee members for Finance from the various Counties were also represented in the meeting.