Ruto tells governors to spend Sh50 billion 'lying idle' at CBK

By Peter Ochieng 

President William Ruto now says Sh50 billion is 'lying idle' at the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

Speaking during the second day of Africa Climate Summit (ACS) at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, Ruto challenged governors to spent the money on bettering the lives of Kenyans.

"Whenever there is money for you, I do my very best to release that money. You are witnesses even if you don't want to agree. Many people are telling me, now you are spoiling governors with a lot of money. As I talk to you, there is Sh50 billion lying at the Central Bank. My request to you is please spend this money," said the Head of State.

On Monday, the president issued Sh7.2 billion to counties in form of climate change investment grants.

He said the money, alongside Sh3 billion from counties own source revenue will go a long way in financing local climate action initiatives.

Meanwhile, African Heads of State and Government have agreed to lead the way in finding sustainable solutions to the climate crisis.

They expressed their intention to collaborate with developed nations, at the same time reminding them of their climate action commitments.

They made the remarks on Tuesday during the ongoing Africa Climate Summit led by President William Ruto.

They are Samia Suluhu (Tanzania), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Évariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), Filipe Nyusi (Mozambique), Salva Kiir (South Sudan), Sassou Nguesso (Congo) and Mostafa Madbouly (Egypt).

Others are Nana Akufo-Addo (Ghana), Mohamed Younis Menfi (Libya), Julius Maada (Sierra Leone), Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia), Brahim Ghali (Sahrawi), Azali Assoumani (Comoros), Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (Djibouti), Isaias Afwerki (Eritrea) and Macky Sall (Senegal).

President Ruto said Africa has made a decision to be at the core of the solution to the climate change problem.

“We cannot pursue climate action through insular, solitary policies. Global warming cannot be mitigated by air-conditioning our little pockets and corners of the world.”

On his part, President Kagame said it was time to take decisive actions aimed at curtailing climate change.

“The more pragmatic approach is for Africa to be a central player in the search for global climate solutions,” he said.

The three day inaugural ACS ends tommorrow.