Narok Governor Ole Ntutu suspends all his planned Harambees following Ruto ban

Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu has announced the suspension of all his planned harambees after President William Ruto announced a ban on Friday.

In his State of the Union address, the president banned government officials from participating in fundraising and charitable events.

Governor Ntutu said in response to the directive, he had suspended his planned fundraising activities in honour of Ruto’s directive.

“The President has directed all civil servants and officials to cease their fundraising activities and harambees in view of the current national situation. “As the elected governor of Narok County, I hereby announce the immediate suspension of all my Harambees and public fundraising activities scheduled in my diary,” Ntutu said.

He promised to work with the institutions that had requested his intervention and to look for a way to stop helping them.

“In the meantime, I will work with all institutions and organizations that have sought my support to find an amicable solution that serves the interests of the people of Narok County,” he said.

The ban on Harambees came after a massive public outcry among Kenyans who questioned the origin of the money that many politicians were publicly displaying.

The president also instructed civil servants to avoid charity events.

“The Attorney General is hereby directed to prepare and introduce appropriate legislation and develop a mechanism for structured and transparent donations for public, charitable and philanthropic purposes,” Ruto said.

In his address to the nation on Friday, Ruto said these changes would be followed by more that he would soon introduce.

However, he has introduced a series of austerity measures to reduce the high cost of government.

Ruto said that after extensive consultations, an agreement had been reached to cut costs, which included the dissolution of at least 47 state-owned companies with overlapping functions.

“This eliminates their operating and maintenance costs and their functions are integrated into the respective ministries.”

“Employees currently employed by the affected companies will be transferred to ministries and other government agencies,” he said.

He also announced the suspension of recruitment of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS).

The President ordered a reduction in the number of advisers in the government by at least 50 percent, effective immediately.

He also announced the elimination of budgets in the offices of the First Lady, the Second Secretary and the wife of the First Cabinet Secretary.

Confidential budgets from executive offices were also removed.

The head of state said the budget for government renovations would now be cut by 50 percent.