Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti confronts MCAs over budget standoff. Photo: Handout
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has refused to assent to the county’s Ksh.17.8 billion budget, igniting a fresh confrontation with the County Assembly.
On Monday, the governor dramatically returned the Machakos County Appropriation Bill, 2026, accusing MCAs of unlawfully altering spending plans and diverting nearly Ksh.854 million from critical services.
Ndeti said her review of the Bill passed on August 18 revealed unauthorised reallocations amounting to Ksh.853.96 million, despite the Executive having submitted a balanced budget aligned with the County Fiscal Strategy Paper.
At the centre of the dispute are deep cuts to programmes the county government insists are vital for service delivery and economic growth.
Funding for the Wikwatyo Fund and women and youth empowerment programmes was slashed from Ksh.274 million to Ksh.74 million, bursaries were cut by Ksh.30 million, and allocations for several road projects already under contract were reduced.
She further accused the Assembly of inflating its own development budget by Ksh.130 million beyond the ceiling set in the Fiscal Strategy Paper, contrary to the Public Finance Management Act.
The governor warned that defunding garbage collection could expose residents in fast‑growing towns such as Mlolongo, Athi River and Machakos to cholera and typhoid outbreaks.
She also raised alarm over cuts to the Revenue Management System, which she credited with boosting own‑source revenue from Ksh1.55 billion in 2023/24 to Sh3.35 billion in 2025/26.
According to her, undermining the system could derail the county’s target of Ksh4.93 billion in 2026/27.
Ndeti cautioned that reducing allocations for contracted road projects could trigger costly legal battles, while slashing youth programmes and bursaries amounted to “a direct assault on the youth.”
The governor has now formally referred the Bill back to the Assembly under Section 24(2)(b) of the County Governments Act, requiring MCAs to reconsider the disputed provisions. Should they reject her recommendations, a two‑thirds majority will be needed to override her veto.
Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka described the Assembly’s actions as “uncouth” and aimed at denying residents basic services.
Meanwhile, residents are urging both sides to end the standoff and restore stability in county governance.
