Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti, Speaker Anne Kiusya agree to end budget standoff

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti and County Assembly Speaker Anne Kiusya have reached an agreement to resolve their budgetary differences and collaborate following months of conflict. The two leaders met on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at Parliament Buildings, facilitated by the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations.

Senator Mohamed Abbas chaired the meeting, which followed a request for clarification from Senator Agnes Kavindu regarding the persistent standoff between the county executive and the County Assembly. The disagreement centered around the County Appropriation Bill, after the Assembly proposed changes to the budget estimates submitted by the executive.

The Assembly redirected funds from proposed garbage privatization and national road projects, while questioning the legal frameworks of certain county initiatives. Governor Ndeti initially sent the Appropriation Bill back, which the Assembly rejected as unacceptable. The tension escalated to a legal dispute at the High Court, leaving the county under a 50% interim expenditure authority.

During the meeting, senators cautioned against allowing political disputes to impact service delivery and reminded both leaders of their responsibilities under parliamentary procedures. Governor Ndeti and Speaker Kiusya agreed to regularize parliamentary procedures and return the memorandum to facilitate the resolution of the dispute.

The agreement aims to prioritize residents' interests and restore cooperation on service delivery, including waste management and staff salaries.