Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu, a member of the ruling UDA party, has launched a strong attack on President William Ruto, accusing him of deliberately weakening devolution by centralising control of public funds to secure political loyalty.
In his remarks, Senator Nyutu alleged that the President’s aim was to personally manage all public resources. “President Ruto would want to control every cent so that those who benefit from any public resource benefit directly from him on condition that they support him,” he claimed.
The second-term senator tied this strategy to ongoing disputes between the national and county governments. He stated that the national government had taken over some county functions, suggesting the move was political rather than a matter of policy.
Nyutu’s statement comes at a delicate moment, adding controversy to the wider debate on devolution. For years, county leaders have complained about the national government withholding key devolved functions and delaying the release of funds, which they argue harms service delivery at the county level.
In August 2025, President Ruto’s administration announced that all 14 devolved functions had been fully transferred to the counties. However, Nyutu’s claims cast doubt on this declaration, pointing to a different picture on the ground.
His remarks also highlight growing divisions within the Kenya Kwanza coalition. By publicly questioning the President, Nyutu has exposed an internal political rift over the handling of devolution, a principle entrenched in the 2010 Constitution.
The senator’s words underline his continued willingness to challenge the President. Previously, he raised concerns about what he described as a political “purge” targeting leaders from the Mt. Kenya region.
Nyutu’s latest comments directly accuse the national government of undermining county authority for political gain. His stance is likely to intensify debate over the balance of power between the two levels of government.
The issue of devolution remains central to Kenya’s governance, and the senator’s challenge suggests that the struggle over resources and authority is far from resolved.
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