Ruto urges Tana River politicians to end wrangles and work together

President William Ruto called for political unity and an end to ethnic divisions during his coastal tour in Tana River County today.

Speaking on Monday, the president emphasised the importance of collaboration among leaders to achieve regional development. The county has faced persistent conflicts between the executive and the assembly, leading to numerous delays, including the suspension of county bursaries.

A stalemate over who should implement the bursary has put the education of thousands of students at risk.

"We have come here today to unite and bring all leaders together. You can see our governor, Dhadho Godhana, is here, our senator, Danson Mungatana, is here, the county woman representative is here, the MCAs are here, and the speaker is here. We are all one team," Ruto stated. "Do you agree that we should unite? Do you agree that we should cooperate so that Tana River can unite and work together for growth?"

Ruto stressed that the residents and leaders of Tana River are united as one family and one team, working towards the common goal of peace and development.

"We are all one family, we are all one force, we are all united, and we want to move Tana River forward with peace, cooperation, and the unity of its people," he added.

Prior to Ruto's call for unity, the Tana River County Assembly claimed that the bursary could not be disbursed due to a lack of a legal framework.

Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana addresses congregants at Chelelelut, in the Rift Valley during a harambee for a local Catholic Church on May 4, 2024. (Photo: Danson Mungatana)

According to the Chairperson of the County Assembly Education Committee, Hamid Babusa, the Bursary Act is currently being contested in court, and the fund remains suspended until a judgment is passed.

"The MCAs have been managing the fund as patrons in ward committees, but the executive, through civil society, has challenged the same. Until the court clarifies the matter, we can't have that fund operating," Babusa explained.

Meanwhile, Civil Society Secretary General James Rashid asserted that the legal framework for the bursary continues to operate until the court's decision. He argued that the MCAs have no constitutional mandate to implement the bursary, making their direct involvement a violation of the constitution.

The political differences have also jeopardised a multibillion-dollar urbanisation project worth at least Sh100 billion. This project, which aims to resettle flood survivors, develop new towns, and expand urban areas, is at risk.

A letter from the State Department of Housing and Urban Development dated May 30 warned that the county could be dropped from the Kenya Informal Settlement Implementation Program (KISIP2) and the Kenya Urban Support Program if development plans are not approved.

KISIP, funded by the World Bank, has been supporting the planning and titling of 11 settlement areas in Garsen, Hola, Bura, and Madogo. However, the consultancy contract for the project expired in April and cannot be extended until the county assembly approves the Local Physical Development Plan.

Lands Executive Mwanajuma Haribae noted that developers need the land use plan, which has been pending in the county assembly, before they can proceed with development plans. The urbanisation project has faced political backlash, threatening to drive away development partners.