Itumbi dismisses claims Kindiki has been stripped of key government roles

Head of Creative Economy and Special Projects in the Executive Office of the President, Dennis Itumbi, has dismissed reports claiming Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has lost some of his influential government responsibilities to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

The reports alleged that President William Ruto had designated Mudavadi as the official responsible for administering the Intergovernmental Relations Act, a role previously associated with the Deputy President's office.

The report further claimed that Kindiki had ceased to chair the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), the body responsible for coordinating fiscal relations between the national and county governments.

Responding to the reports, Itumbi backed Kindiki's earlier dismissal of the claims, describing them as "fake news."

In a statement posted on his social media platforms, Itumbi said Kenya's intergovernmental relations framework is not managed by a single office or individual but is anchored on several institutions established by law, each with distinct constitutional and statutory mandates.

"Deputy President Kithure Kindiki was absolutely right when he termed the reports fake news," Itumbi said.

"Kenya's intergovernmental relations are not handled by one office or one individual. They are governed through four distinct institutions, each with a clearly defined mandate. Suggesting that one office has taken over another's constitutional or statutory role is simply inaccurate."

He added that "facts do not change because we can write misleading headlines on what was previously a national paper."

Itumbi explained that the National and County Government Coordinating Summit remains the apex intergovernmental body

Chaired by Ruto, the Summit brings together the President and all 47 governors to provide overall leadership on intergovernmental relations, strengthen cooperation between the two levels of government and promote national cohesion.

On the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), Itumbi maintained that the Deputy President remains its chairperson as provided under the Public Finance Management Act, 2012.

According to him, IBEC serves as the principal forum where the national and county governments consult on public finance and economic matters.

Its responsibilities include coordinating fiscal relations, discussing the equitable sharing of nationally raised revenue, reviewing county budget implementation and public financial management, coordinating economic and budget policy, and resolving intergovernmental fiscal disputes.

Its membership includes the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, the State Department responsible for Devolution, the Chairperson of the Council of Governors and representatives of county governments.

"It is important to note that the Principal Secretary for Devolution sits in the Deputy President's office," Itumbi said.

He further clarified the role of the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC), describing it as the technical implementation arm of the intergovernmental framework.

The committee supports the Summit by implementing its decisions, facilitating consultation and coordination, resolving disputes and monitoring implementation of intergovernmental agreements..

According to Itumbi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary's involvement in intergovernmental affairs stems from his responsibility of responding to parliamentary questions on the intergovernmental relations framework, noting that the Principal Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs is domiciled in Mudavadi's office.

He also pointed to the Council of Governors (CoG), established under separate legislation, as the collective voice of Kenya's 47 county governments that works alongside the other intergovernmental institutions to advance cooperative governance.