LIVE: President Ruto presides over the 12th National and County Governments Coordinating Summit.

Thank you, Your Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya and the Chair of the Summit, with all the protocols established. I wish to acknowledge, for purposes of noting in the record, the presence of Your Excellency, governors 36 in number. I also wish to acknowledge the apologies received from the governor for Neri and the governor for Mueni. We also acknowledge the presence of the CSS, nine in number, and the Prime Cabinet Secretary. We also have PSS led by the PS for State Department for Devolution. We also acknowledge the attendance of constitutional commissions: the Controller of Budget led by Dr. Nakango, the Commission for Revenue Allocation led by Chair Madame Mary Chupkati, the Public Service Commission led by Vice Chair Madame Mary Kimon, the National Land Commission led by CEO Madame Kabal, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission led by Chair Mr. Sami Chapun, the Equalization Fund represented by CEO Dr. Guyo. I also acknowledge the presence of the CEO for SHA, the CEO for Kempsa, and other CEOs whose agenda appears in the meeting. I also acknowledge the CEO for the Council of Governors, Mary Muitti, with the secretariat and all senior officers from the state departments. The attendance is as posted. I submit. Thank you.

At this point, I would now call on Honorable Michael Salon, Principal Secretary, State Department of Devolution, to read the statutory citation.

Your Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya and the Chairman of the Summit, Honorable Dr. William Samoto, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Honorable Professor Kra Kindi, the Chairperson of the Council of Governors and Vice Chairperson of the Summit, His Excellency Honorable Huhai. Honorable members of the summit, all protocols observed. Ladies and gentlemen, Article 62 of our constitution states that the governments at the national and county levels are distinct and interdependent and should conduct their mutual relations on the basis of consultation and cooperation. This obligates the national and county governments to conduct their business on the basis of consultation, coordination and cooperation. This requirement is further emphasized in Article 189 of the constitution which requires the national and county governments to cooperate in the performance of their functions and exercise of powers. The National and County Government Coordinating Summit, which is the summit, is the apex body for intergovernmental relations and established under Section 7 of the Intergovernmental Relations Act Cap 265F, which further stipulates the membership of the summit. The conduct of the meetings of the summit is guided by the provisions of Section 9 and Section 5 of the schedule to the Intergovernmental Relations Act Cap 265F. Your Excellency the President and members of the summit, I have perused the various provisions of law relating to the convening and holding of meetings of the summit and wish to state that the summit convened today, the 10th of December 2025, is legally convened and has the requisite quorum. The summit may therefore proceed to conduct its business. Thank you.

I now respectfully invite His Excellency the President and the Chair of the Summit to take over and preside over the 12th National and County Government Coordinating Summit. Sir.