Ruto hits ground running after assuming the office of the Presidency
Ruto hits ground running after he was sworn into the office of the presidency in a colorful ceremony at Kasarani stadium.
To stamp his authority as the new Head of State, Ruto made several decrees including restoration of all operations at the port of Mombasa, and the swearing-in of the six judges his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta refused to approve.
Clearing cargo reverts to Mombasa
The Head of State stated during his inauguration that he will issue additional directives governing the management of the Mombasa port to facilitate ease of doing business and improve the economy of the coastal city.
In line with the pledge he made during the campaigns, Ruto promised to bring Mombasa’s port services back from the Naivasha Dry Port.
“This afternoon, I will be issuing instructions for clearing of goods and other attendant operational duties to the port of Mombasa as I made a commitment to Kenyans. This will restore thousands of jobs in the city of Mombasa,” Ruto told the cheering crowd.
Six rejected judges, funding for the Judiciary
President Ruto appointed the six judges who were nominated for appointment during Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure.
He signed two gazette notices promoting four Court of Appeal judges and two Environment and Land Court judges.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 166(1) of the Constitution of Kenya, I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, appoint –Korir Weldon Kipyegon, Muchelule Aggrey Otsyula, Odunga George Vincent, Joel Mwaura Ngugi,” read part of the gazette notice signed by President Ruto.
Additionally, he said his administration will step up budgetary allocation to the Judiciary by 3 billion annually for the next five years.
Financial autonomy of the police
President Ruto stated that the National Police Services’ continuous financial reliance on the Office of the President has compromised its operational independence and vowed to remedy the problem.
The National Police Service (NPS) budget will now be moved from the Office of the President to the Inspector-General as the accounting officer, per his recent decision.
Reduced fertilizer prices
The President declared that plans have already been made to provide 1.4 million bags of fertilizer at a discounted price of Sh3,500 for a 50kg bag, as opposed to the regular Sh6,500.
The revised pricing takes effect next week.
He urged county administrations in the Eastern, Central, and Western areas to make sure that farmers could access the fertilizer.
Review CBK guidelines on Sh1m transactions
Ruto stated that he had noted the comments made by traders over the hardship associated with cash transactions worth more than Sh1 million.
According to him, there is room to make compliance less onerous for legitimate commercial operations.
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), according to President Ruto, has assured him that efforts are being made to lessen this burden without jeopardizing the security of the financial system.
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