Ruto disburses Sh32b to counties, says all revenue balances cleared

President William Ruto announced that the Sh32 billion shareable revenue for counties for July 2023 was to be disbursed on Thursday. 

Ruto, who is on a five-day tour of the Coast, said his administration has an update on the disbursement of the shareable revenue to the counties.

He further mentioned that his administration has cleared the arrears of Sh38 billion that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government had not disbursed to the counties.

“The counties have no excuse but to deliver because we are up to date in the disbursement of the shareable revenue. Today, I will release Sh32 billion to all counties,” said Ruto.

He added, “I promised to support devolution because we know what it can do for our people. Last month, I disbursed all the shareable revenue, including all the arrears.” The president said the government would also disburse Sh2.3 billion to all cash transfer beneficiaries under the social protection program for July 2023 across the country.

“I promised that there is no way we can pay ourselves salaries before paying stipends for the vulnerable,” said Ruto. He announced the official opening of the Lamu County Commissioner’s Office in Mokowe, Lamu West.

In Lamu, Ruto said in the coming weeks, the government would issue an international tender to a strategic partner who would help commercialise the Lamu Port.

“We want Lamu Port to operate at full capacity to create jobs and generate revenue. The strategic partner will also help us develop the special economic zones and other support components,” he said.

Ruto, who arrived at the Coast from Tanzania on Wednesday evening, said his administration was keen to develop the Blue Economy. “Currently, the Blue Economy generates about Sh20 billion, and we want to make sure that in the next three years, it generates Sh120 billion,” he said. To support the sector, Ruto said the government had set aside Sh1 billion to develop fish landing sites and cold storage facilities.