DP Ruto Wins Big in 2021/2022 Budget as Raila Loses – LitKenya

As you start your day, you need to power your mind with some relevant and useful information.

We have picked for you the Top 10 stories making the headlines on this day, 12th June 2021.

Budget: DP Ruto Wins Big

Of the Ksh7.6 billion set aside to cater for salaries and other personal benefits for senior State officials and retired Prime Minister as well as former Vice Presidents in 2021/2022 budget, Deputy President William Ruto is among the biggest winners.

As expected, the Executive got a lion’s share of Ksh3.9 billion while the Office of the Deputy President was allocated Ksh1.4 billion. Important to note, the DP’s perks and allowances were increased by Ksh582 million.

The Office of Former Premier Raila Odinga, which was recognised after the March 9 2018 ‘Handshake’, will receive Ksh68 million, meaning all staff at the ex-Prime Minister’s secretariat will be on government payroll. However, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani slashed Raila’s budget by Ksh15 million.

Treasury Allocates Ksh7.2 Billion For MES Despite Governors Opposition

The Managed Equipment Services (MES) will receive Ksh7.2 billion in the 2021/2021 financial year, amid a row between the national government and county administrations.

Governors has been opposing the project, which was started in 2015. Basically, MES signs contracts with devolved units to equip key hospitals with modern machines, but some county chiefs lament that at times the expensive equipment lie idle because of staff shortage and lack of trained people to operate them.

Initially, the governors had refused to accept the deal, which costs them billions, but the national government coerced them to agree.

Confusion as Treasury Allocates Money For ‘Done Project’

Officials from the Treasury and the Kenya Railways had to defend the government after it set aside Ksh30 billion in the new financial year on railway development.

For instance, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur said Ksh27 billion will be used to for the construction of the Nairobi-Naivasha SGR line, a project that was launched in 2019.

Kenya Railways managing director Philip Mainga clarified on the matter, saying the allocation is for the Naivasha-Longonot line and linking the Nairobi-Naivasha SGR with the Naivasha-Kisumu metre gauge line.

Declare the Budget Illegal, Activists Tell Court

Activists Okiya Omtata and Wanjeri Nderi have a filed a petition in court, seeking to have the 2021/2022 Ksh3.6 trillion national budget declared unconstitutional.

According to the duo, the Treasury should be barred from implementing the expenditure plan considering that Parliament has set Ksh3.023 trillion as the maximum budget for Kenya.

Yatani in Trouble For Skipping Summons

Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka has threatened to take actions against Treasury Cabinet Secretary for repeatedly failing to honour summons from a House committee.

According to Lusaka, the committee wanted the CS to explain why the exchequer has delayed to disburse funds to counties as the 2020/2021 fiscal year comes to an end.

Governors have been pleading with the Treasury to release the more the Ksh100 billion it owes counties in equitable share revenue.

Raila Promises to Work With Kalonzo

ODM leader Raila Odinga told mourners at the burial of former Kibwezi MP Kalembe Ndile that his political relationship with Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka is not dead.

The former Prime Minister said him and the ex-Vice President still share the dream of making Kenya a better place.

He accused President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee administration of runway corruption and lack of visionary policies.

Kalembe Ndile, Benjamin Ayimba Laid to Rest

Family, friends, politicians and people of Kibwezi on Saturday bid farewell to former MP Kalembe Ndile, who was interred at his Mbui Nzau home in Machakos county.

The ex-Kibwezi lawmaker, who served between 2003-2007, was eulogized as a pro-people politician for fighting for the rights of his people even after they failed to re-elect him.

In Siaya County, former coach of the Kenya Sevens rugby team Benjamin Ayimba was also interred.

Mourners said the rugby great left a legacy of a lifetime, praising him for flying the Kenya flag high when he won various regional and international competitions.

Koome: Uhuru Must Appoint the Six Judges

Chief Justice Martha Koome has vowed to push President Uhuru to appoint six judges who were left out when the Head of State gazetted 34 justices.

Speaking when she presided over the swearing-in of the new president of the Court of Appeal Daniel Musinga, Koome said the President has no authority to cherry-pick names forwarded to him by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Is Sonko Flirting Uhuru Again?

Barely a year of staying in the cold following his impeachment in the December 2020, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko seems to be learning from his mistakes.

In a radio interview earlier this year, President Uhuru Kenyatta revealed that he plotted Sonko’s removal because he could not stomach insults and underperformance in the city.

However, now the impeached county boss appears to be warming to Uhuru’s side.

In his latest social media posts, Sonko has been praising the President for good service delivery and providing unmatched leadership.

Uhuru Allies to Meet in Nyeri

A section of Gikuyu, Embu and Meru Association (Gema) leaders who back President Uhuru Kenyatta are expected to meet today for a consultative session in Nyeri.

According to sources, the politicians, who include governors and MPs, will discuss Uhuru’s succession and ways of uniting the Mt Kenya region amid divisions and rebellion.

The meeting comes weeks after the installation of National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi as the Mt Kenya official spokesperson.

A majority of the leaders gracing the Nyeri talks are opposed Muturi’s coronation.

Do you have any fascinating, funny, intriguing, troubling or inspiring story that you would wish to share? Please email us at:
[email protected] and we will publish it on Litkenya.com