A deepening power struggle between Governor Wavinya Ndeti and the Machakos County Assembly is threatening to derail public services and raise fresh questions about the management of the county's finances.

At the heart of the conflict is Finance Executive Catherine Mutanu Raphael, whose dramatic dismissal by Governor Ndeti, subsequent impeachment by the County Assembly and eventual reinstatement by the High Court have exposed widening cracks within the county government.

The crisis comes at a critical moment as Machakos struggles to pass its Sh17.8 billion budget for the 2026/27 financial year, forcing the County Assembly to authorise withdrawal of only half the proposed budget to keep government operations running.

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The latest phase of the dispute played out on Wednesday when Governor Ndeti publicly appealed to MCAs to end the budget impasse that has delayed approval of the county's spending plans.

Speaking a day after the Assembly approved withdrawal of 50 per cent of the proposed budget, the governor urged elected leaders to return to the negotiating table.

“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,” she said.

The governor warned that residents were already paying the price for the prolonged standoff.

“I will not grow tired of engaging you. It is bad for Machakos residents to suffer because of you,” she said.

The Assembly, however, says it is merely performing its oversight role and scrutinising government spending in line with the law.

On Tuesday, Speaker Ann Kiusya announced that the Assembly had approved withdrawal of 50 per cent of the proposed budget from the County Revenue Fund pending passage of the full Appropriation Act.

According to the Speaker, the move was intended to prevent a shutdown of government functions while lawmakers continue scrutiny of the budget.

“The approval is intended to support the continuity of essential county operations as the process towards approval of the full Appropriation Act continues,” Ms Kiusya said.

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Mua Ward MCA Francis Ngunga rejected attempts to blame legislators for the budget delays.

“There’s no two way. The law must be followed and she knows it. She is politicising an otherwise very serious issue,” he said.

He did not offer details.

The battle over the budget has increasingly revolved around Finance Executive Catherine Mutanu, the official responsible for preparing and defending the county's spending plans.

Her troubles began in July after the County Assembly approved a motion seeking her removal from office over alleged misconduct, incompetence and violations of financial management laws.

MCAs accused her of presiding over a ballooning wage bill, accumulation of billions of shillings in pending bills and failure to comply with legal and financial requirements in managing county resources.

According to the impeachment motion, Machakos County's wage bill had risen to approximately Sh6.49 billion against total county revenue of Sh10.8 billion in the financial year ending June 2025.

The motion also accused her of allowing pending bills to accumulate and withholding funds allocated to the County Assembly.

A five-member select committee was appointed to investigate the allegations and hear her defence.

In a move that stunned both supporters and critics, Governor Ndeti dismissed Ms Mutanu on July 6, before the Assembly completed its impeachment process.

The dismissal letter reached the Assembly while the finance executive was appearing before the select committee to answer the allegations levelled against her.

Muthwani MCA Dominic Maitha said the governor's action fundamentally altered the circumstances under which the committee was operating.

“The communication from the Governor came while the CECM was before the ad hoc committee answering the allegations levelled against her. It therefore changed the circumstances under which the committee was conducting its proceedings,” he said.

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However, the Assembly proceeded with the impeachment process despite the governor's decision.

Days later, MCAs debated and adopted the committee's report, concluding that the accusations against Ms Mutanu had been substantiated.

The political drama took yet another turn when the High Court suspended implementation of Governor Ndeti's dismissal decision.

In a statement issued after being served with the court order, the governor announced that she would comply and immediately reinstate the finance executive.

“As a law-abiding citizen, I respect the rule of law and will fully comply with the court order as the matter proceeds through the judicial process,” she said.

The governor directed Ms Mutanu to resume office pending determination of the legal challenge.

The budget dispute has since evolved into competing narratives over the county's financial health.

Governor Ndeti has accused some MCAs of deliberately frustrating her administration and misrepresenting budget figures.

She dismissed claims that some departments had been allocated zero funding and challenged assertions that pending bills had climbed to Sh7.5 billion.

According to the governor, pending bills stood at Sh4.6 billion as of June 30, 2026, including Sh1.6 billion in unpaid salaries for county workers.

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She blamed the salary arrears on the Assembly's failure to approve a supplementary budget.

The governor also accused legislators of attempting to use the budget process as a political weapon.

“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,” she said.

Behind the political exchanges lies a larger governance challenge.

On Wednesday, Mr Maitha said the ongoing turmoil reflected the consequences of what he termed excessive pride and refusal to listen to other leaders.

“She is almost hitting a dead end after pride and primitivity come to an end. Kiburi na ubinafsi inaenda kufika mwisho,” he said.

The budget impasse has already delayed approval of the county's spending plans and raised fears of disruptions to development projects and public services.

While the Assembly's approval to withdraw 50 per cent of the proposed budget provides temporary relief, county officials and residents alike acknowledge that a comprehensive resolution remains urgent.

For now, Machakos finds itself caught in a three-way contest involving the governor, the county assembly and the courts, with the future of the county's finances—and delivery of vital public services—hanging in the balance.

As the budget impasse persists, the county faces mounting pressure to restore stability and put governance ahead of political rivalry.

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