President William Ruto on Tuesday praised the growing collaboration between Kenya’s National and County governments, stressing that the partnership has improved public service delivery and strengthened devolution.
The remarks came during the 12th National and County Governments Coordinating Summit held at State House, Nairobi.
Speaking at the event, Ruto highlighted that counties have become key drivers of local economic development. He pointed to achievements in healthcare reforms under the Social Health Authority, the expansion of agricultural value chains, the establishment of County Aggregation and Industrial Parks, and the adoption of digital systems to enhance service delivery (President William Ruto, statement on social media, 10 December 2025).
The President also emphasized the role of international collaboration in advancing national priorities.
He cited partnerships with countries like the United States in reinforcing healthcare systems, describing it as a shared responsibility between national and county governments.
Ruto announced a significant milestone in Kenya’s devolution agenda, noting that the full delineation, unbundling, and gazettement of devolved functions has been completed.
According to the President, this process ensures clear lines of responsibility and guarantees that financial resources align with the assigned functions.
Despite progress, Ruto expressed concern over delays in implementing resolutions from past Coordinating Summits. He urged all responsible institutions to act with urgency to complete pending tasks and uphold the spirit of intergovernmental cooperation.
Devolution, introduced under Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, aims to empower local governments, bring services closer to citizens, and promote equitable development across counties.
The 12th summit brought together governors, senior national officials, and sector stakeholders to assess progress and explore strategies for accelerating service delivery.
Ruto concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to people-centred governance through strong coordination between national and county authorities