{
  "id": 4439012,
  "title": "Khalwale: Ruto ordered CS Mbadi to stop development funds to Meru",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/khalwale-ruto-ordered-cs-mbadi-to-stop-development-funds-to-meru",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-30T14:22:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "People Daily Kenya",
    "slug": "people-daily-kenya",
    "url": "https://peopledaily.digital/inside-politics/khalwale-ruto-ordered-cs-mbadi-to-stop-development-funds-to-meru"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has accused President William Ruto of instructing Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi to halt development funds to Meru County. This claim was made during a political tour in Meru on August 30, 2026, where Khalwale challenged the president to explain the move against the county. The dispute stems from a debt linked to the Leopard Rock Hotel, which Khalwale claims Ruto suggested should be settled by the national government. Instead, Ruto allegedly directed Mbadi to write to the Senate seeking to prevent the release of development funds to Meru. The Senate subsequently rejected this move, according to Khalwale, marking a political setback for the President's administration.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "People Daily Kenya",
        "title": "Natembeya rallies Meru against Ruto, says Western is united",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/natembeya-rallies-meru-against-ruto-says-western-is-united",
        "published": "2026-08-30T09:52:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}