Wavinya urges MCAs to end budget stalemate through dialogue

By Sammy Kimatu

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has declared she is ready to engage Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to unlock the current stalemate over the county’s 2026/27 budget, whose delayed passage has paralysed the delivery of essential services.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, August 12, a day after the county assembly authorised 50 per cent of the county budget amid a stand-off over allocations, Wavinya warned that the delay in processing the budget had hurt innocent residents who expected elected leaders to discharge their delegated authority with honesty and transparency.

“What I want to tell the MCAs is that it is time to stand up and be counted. As your leader, I have decided I will convene a dialogue so that we address this matter because Machakos is bigger than all of us. I will not grow tired of engaging you. It is bad for Machakos residents to suffer because of you,” said Wavinya.

The governor took issue with the Budget and House Business Committees, accusing them of being used by external political forces to frustrate her government’s agenda to empower the people of Machakos.

“I have always engaged the county assembly leadership on various matters and agreed upon issues. All I need them to do is to be sincere and truthful. The biggest problem lies with the Budget Committee members and the UDA-allied MCAs. The budget we forwarded to the assembly reflected the wishes of the citizens, not my wishes or the wishes of my deputy,” Wavinya said.

Governor disputes pending bills claims

The governor dismissed as misleading claims by a section of MCAs during Tuesday’s assembly proceedings that various departments, including Water, had been allocated zero budget in the current estimates.

She also dismissed claims that pending bills as of June 2026 amounted to Sh7.5 billion.

“The total amount of pending bills payable as at June 30th 2026 was Sh4.6 billion. This included Sh1.6 billion in staff salaries for April, May and June 2026 arising from the failure to approve the supplementary budget by the county assembly.

“The budgeted amount for pending bills for Financial Year 2026/27 is Sh858 million and not Sh270 million as stated in the erroneous interpretation of the submitted Appropriation Bill. The outstanding pending bills will be settled through a first charge arrangement,” said the governor.

The governor noted that some of the amendments to her budget proposals by the county assembly’s Budget Committee infringed on existing legal and contractual obligations of the executive, alleging sabotage by MCAs.

“To weaponise the budget process against the very citizens who elected you is not only an abdication of legislative duty but also a reckless betrayal of public trust. You are punishing the people of Machakos unfairly. I wonder how your conscience lets you sleep in peace when you know the kind of suffering you are deliberately inflicting on the people,” she said.