Machakos County Assembly probes claims Wavinya stormed house over Ksh17.8B budget

The Machakos County Assembly is investigating allegations that Governor Wavinya Ndeti interfered with the budget process, which totaled Ksh17.8 billion. During a recent session, Assembly members accused the county executive of pressuring senior officials, including the Clerk of the County Assembly and the Serjeant-at-Arms, during the handling of the Governor's memorandum.

Vincent Kavyu, a Member of County Assembly from the Mathatani ward, emphasized that the Assembly was fulfilling its constitutional oversight role by scrutinizing the budget and proposing amendments. Kavyu stated, “For this County of Machakos, we want to remind His Excellency the Governor that this Assembly, by reviewing the budget document and by proposing the amendments that were proposed, was exercising its constitutional mandate of oversight.”

The lawmakers alleged that the county executive engaged in intimidating and pressuring behavior, which led to the Clerk receiving and signing the Governor's memorandum under difficult circumstances. The Assembly also raised concerns about armed security officers present within the Assembly premises, expressing that the presence of visibly carried firearms could have put Assembly security personnel at risk.

As tensions persist between the Assembly and the county executive, the dispute raises questions about the relationship between county executives and assemblies, particularly when disagreements arise over budget allocations and amendments.