Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has officially declined to assent to the county’s KSh 17.797 billion Appropriation Bill for the 2026/2027 Financial Year. The Governor returned the spending plan to the County Assembly alongside a memorandum detailing her objections, triggering a political standoff with Ward Representatives.
Governor Ndeti accused the Assembly of making unlawful reallocations totaling KSh 853.96 million, arguing that the changes systematically strip funding from essential service delivery, ongoing development projects, and youth welfare programs to inflate internal legislative budgets.
“I cannot in good conscience sign into law a legislation that openly violates statutory limits, dismantles essential public services, undermines our financial foundation, and directly imperils the lives and livelihoods of our people,” Governor Ndeti stated during an address outside the Assembly gates.
Citing Regulation 37(1) of the Public Finance Management (County Governments) Regulations, the Governor emphasized that any budget adjustments made by the Assembly cannot exceed a 1% variance per vote ceiling. She noted that multiple votes were altered far beyond this threshold or eliminated entirely.
The total removal of KSh 78.32 million set aside for solid waste collection in major urban centres—such as Mlolongo, Athi River, and Machakos Town—threatens to cause garbage accumulation and potential disease outbreaks.
Defunding the Integrated County Revenue Management System places the county’s target of KSh 4.93 billion in own-source revenue at risk, after similar digitisation efforts boosted local revenue collection to KSh 3.35 billion.
The reduction of KSh 65.38 million from active road projects—including the Katangi–Kithimani and Lita–Miti Muonza roads—risks work halts, breach-of-contract lawsuits, and accrued interest penalties against the county.
Cutting the sub-county administration budget leaves local administrative units with approximately KSh 47,000 per month to manage operations and public participation across the county.
Invoking Section 24(2)(b) of the County Governments Act, 2012, the Governor referred the Bill back to the floor. Under Kenyan public finance law, the County Assembly must now deliberate on the Governor’s reservations. Overriding the veto will require a strict two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly. Governor Ndeti additionally cautioned that individual legislators who vote to uphold statutory budget variances could assume personal legal liability for ensuing financial losses or contractual damages.
