President William Ruto held a consultative meeting with leaders from Nakuru County on Tuesday at State House, Nairobi, to reassure them of his support and address the fallout from the recent Finance Bill, 2024. The bill, which triggered widespread public outcry, led to severe backlash against MPs allied to Kenya Kwanza who supported it, with some facing property losses.
The meeting brought together all elected leaders from Nakuru, including Governor Susan Kihika and Molo MP Kuria Kimani, whose house was burned by protesters during the violence that erupted after the bill’s passage. Kimani, who also chairs the Finance Committee, stated that the meeting aimed to discuss key development issues in the county.
“As Nakuru County leaders, we were hosted by the President to discuss key priority development programs, including the construction of the Rironi-Mau Summit road, digital jobs, ICT hubs, and housing,” Kimani said.
President Ruto acknowledged the concerns raised by Kenyans and called for a multi-sectoral forum to chart a way forward, despite having to withdraw support for the bill. He praised those who voted in favor of the bill, terming them true heroes of Kenya.
In a brief statement after the meeting, the President mentioned that they agreed on priority projects for the county and aligned them with the new budget realities. The Rironi-Mau Summit road, set to ease traffic between Nairobi and the Western region, will be launched before the end of the year. The stalled Itare dam project, valued at KES 38 billion, was also discussed. This dam is among the 100 large dams prioritized for construction to address water problems across the country this year.
Governor Kihika highlighted additional topics from their discussions, including the renovation and upgrading of stadiums across the county, Women and Youth Enterprise funds, enhanced security measures, and lifting caveats to foster a conducive environment for growth and prosperity.
Due to budget cuts, some projects will be delayed, Ruto announced. He is also planning to meet with leaders from other counties to continue these discussions.