Machakos County’s KSh17.8 billion 2026/27 budget dispute has deepened, with bursaries, youth programmes and other county services caught in the standoff between Governor Wavinya Ndeti and the County Assembly.
The dispute began after Governor Ndeti returned the County Appropriation Bill, 2026, to the Assembly.
She objected to several changes made to the county spending plan.
The County Assembly passed the KSh17.797 billion budget on August 18, 2026.
The Bill then went to the Governor for assent.
Governor Ndeti declined to assent to the Bill. She cited what she described as unauthorised reallocations worth KSh853.96 million.
Her objections have triggered a fresh confrontation with MCAs.
The two sides now disagree over how the county should allocate its resources.
They must also agree on which programmes should receive funding in the 2026/27 financial year.
Why KSh853.96 million is at the centre of the dispute
Governor Ndeti says the Assembly made major changes to the Executive’s budget proposals.
One of the biggest changes involves the Machakos Youth Service.
According to the Governor, the Assembly removed the entire KSh175.86 million allocation for the programme. Ndeti also says the Assembly cut the bursary allocation by KSh30 million.
The allocation fell from about KSh121.79 million to KSh91.79 million.
The Governor has also raised concerns over other reductions. These include a KSh126.9 million cut to the County Revenue Management System.
She also cited a KSh78.3 million reduction affecting municipalities.
Other affected areas include garbage collection and sub-county offices. Ndeti argues that the changes could affect service delivery and ongoing projects.
She also says the cuts could affect programmes targeting residents.
The figures come from the Governor’s objections to the Assembly-approved Bill.
The County Assembly has defended its role in scrutinising the county budget.
MCAs have also maintained that the Assembly has a constitutional mandate to amend budget proposals.
Bursaries and youth programmes caught in the dispute
The budget disagreement now has a direct impact on residents.
Recent reports indicate that bursary and youth empowerment funding could face uncertainty.
This has raised concerns among residents who depend on county assistance.
The Machakos Youth Service remains a major issue in the dispute.
Governor Ndeti says the Assembly removed its entire proposed allocation. Bursaries are another key concern.
The county bursary programme supports needy learners across several institutions.
These include secondary schools, universities and vocational training centres.
The budget standoff could therefore affect families and young people.
Many residents are now waiting to see how the final budget will treat these programmes.
Residents protest over Machakos budget dispute
The dispute has also drawn public attention in Machakos Town.
Hundreds of residents gathered on September 2 during a public engagement with Governor Ndeti.
The residents raised concerns over the budget impasse. They also questioned the future of youth programmes.
The demonstrations increased pressure on both arms of the county government.
Residents want the Executive and Assembly to resolve their differences. They also want county programmes to continue without further disruption.
The standoff follows an earlier Assembly decision on county spending.
The Assembly authorized the withdrawal of 50 per cent of the proposed budget. The move allowed the county to continue financing essential expenditure.
That temporary arrangement amounted to about KSh8.9 billion.
Budget dispute escalates at County Assembly
The disagreement has also created a separate dispute within the county government.
On August 31, Governor Ndeti went to the County Assembly premises.
She said her officers had faced difficulties while delivering her memorandum. The memorandum returned the Appropriation Bill to the Assembly.
The incident later became a subject of concern within the Assembly. Speaker Anne Kiusya said the Assembly would investigate the events.
The investigation may involve the Committee on Powers and Privileges.
The Assembly has also raised concerns about the handling of the Governor’s memorandum.
It has questioned the presence of members of the public and media personnel within the Assembly precincts.
The investigation will examine the events surrounding the confrontation.
Meanwhile, the Executive and Assembly remain divided over the budget.
What happens next?
The Appropriation Bill has returned to the County Assembly.
MCAs must now consider the issues raised in the Governor’s memorandum.
The county government needs both sides to resolve the disagreement.
For residents, the outcome will determine how county resources are allocated. Key sectors include education, youth programmes and infrastructure.
Municipal services and revenue administration will also depend on the final budget. The immediate question is whether the two sides can reach an agreement.
A prolonged dispute could create uncertainty around county programmes.
The standoff also raises a wider question about county governance.How should elected leaders balance budget oversight with service delivery?
That question will remain central as the Assembly considers the Governor’s objections.
Attention will now turn to whether the two sides can resolve the impasse.
Machakos residents are waiting for a settled 2026/27 county budget.
County Guardian will continue tracking the Machakos budget process and its impact on residents.
