Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has again taken charge of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), leading Monday’s meeting in Karen despite recent reports claiming that the position had been handed to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Kindiki presided over the 30th Ordinary Session of IBEC at his Karen office on Monday, August 24, 2026, in a meeting attended by senior officials from the national and county governments.
Among those present were members of the Council of Governors leadership, Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries, bringing together officials involved in key matters concerning the two levels of government.
The meeting comes days after claims circulated on social media suggesting that Kindiki had been removed from the leadership of IBEC and that Mudavadi had been given the responsibility.
Kindiki’s presence at the head of Monday’s session has therefore placed the claims under renewed attention, as he continued to oversee the forum and guide discussions between national and county government officials.
The latest meeting follows the 29th Ordinary Session of IBEC, which was also chaired by Kindiki.
During the earlier meeting, the Deputy President raised concern over delays in carrying out decisions reached through the council. He said government agencies needed to do more to ensure agreements made at IBEC meetings were implemented on time.
“We have seen some progress in implementing IBEC decisions, but it is not enough; we must do better. This is a high-level meeting bringing together all levels of government, and there is no reason for institutions to delay implementation,” Kindiki stated.
Kindiki has since taken a more positive view of the progress made on resolutions reached during previous IBEC sessions.
Addressing the 30th Ordinary Session, he said several decisions agreed upon during the previous 29 meetings had already been acted upon, while other resolutions remained under implementation by the responsible government agencies.
The Deputy President said the progress showed the importance of IBEC as a platform through which the national and county governments can work together and turn agreements into actual programmes and actions.
He said the Monday meeting also offered an opportunity for the two levels of government to examine new challenges and agree on ways of dealing with matters affecting Kenyans.
IBEC provides a forum for discussions between the national and county governments on issues such as sharing of revenue, allocation of funds, development planning and other areas requiring cooperation.
Kindiki said the continued meetings were necessary to improve coordination, especially where national and county governments must work together to address a common issue.
One of the matters expected to be considered during the latest session is preparedness for El Niño weather conditions. Both levels of government are expected to coordinate their plans and response measures as part of efforts to deal with the expected weather situation.
Health issues will also be discussed, together with other matters touching on government services and cooperation between national and county authorities.
The Deputy President further stressed the need for stronger cooperation between the two levels of government in handling fiscal, administrative and development concerns.
He reaffirmed the commitment to improving relations between national and county governments, saying effective devolution remains important in ensuring development is shared fairly across the country.
The discussions also come at a time when greater attention is being placed on the need for government agencies to follow through on agreements reached through IBEC and other intergovernmental forums.
Kindiki has maintained that decisions made through the council should be implemented within the agreed timelines so that they can have a direct impact on the lives of Kenyans.