By Martin Masai | The Anchor
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti is contemplating a major reshuffle in her administration as she grapples with a deepening crisis in her relationship with the County Assembly, The Anchor reveals.
The anticipated changes come amid growing anxiety at the cabinet level, with murmurs of discontent and mistrust among County Executive Committee Members, most of whom feel abused or sidelined in the ongoing political standoff between the Executive and the Assembly.
One CECM, speaking to The Anchor through a trusted proxy, said the majority of cabinet members have been reduced to bystanders, watching the turmoil unfold without direction or consultation from the governor despite being the front line advisors of the county chief.
“We are ridiculed over drama whose author does not share the script, yet we see her driving us into a ditch, and we are all impacted” said the minister, who declined a direct interview out of fear the phone may be under surveillance.
The source disclosed that some cabinet members maintain cordial relations with Speaker Anne Kiusya and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and could potentially help broker a truce—if only Wavinya would consult them.
“She would rather spend time monitoring who among us has a new expensive watch, car or house, hoping to uncover deals she doesn’t know about,” the minister added, painting a picture of mistrust at the highest level of county leadership.
A Government in Turmoil
The looming reshuffle follows Wavinya’s recent move to renew contracts for six CECMs whose two-and-a-half-year terms had lapsed.
The renewed contracts went to Catherine Mutanu (Agriculture), Consolata Mutisya (Education), Nathaniel Nganga (Lands), Bishop Nzomo (Devolved Units), Sharon Mutua(Youth and Sports) and Onesmus Kuyu (Finance). The governor, however, keeps their dateless yet duly signed resignation letters- keeping them always on a leash.
While these renewals may appear as a vote of confidence, they have done little to calm an administration said to be bogged down by operational paralysis and political gridlock in each ministry, with huge unpaid bills running close to Kes 4b.
Another CECM, reacting to news of an impending reshuffle, was heard asking in frustration, “Twitindia uu?”—a Kamba phrase loosely translated to “Are we going to keep doing this?”—a reference to the frequency and unpredictability of changes under Wavinya’s leadership.
The discontent runs deeper than the ministerial level. Over 35 Chief Officers (COs) are reportedly also in the crosshairs of the reshuffle, with several expressing frustration at being locked out of procurement processes, which are said to be tightly controlled by the Governor and her son, Charles- who also attends cabinet meetings to monitor key decisions that have procurement implications. The lad has no official designation but looms large in government.
Multiple sources told The Anchor that COs, like their cabinet-level counterparts, operate under constant pressure, serving at the mercy of the undated resignation letters they were required to submit alongside their contracts.
“All the Governor needs to do is add a date, and your resignation is complete,” said one source familiar with the internal workings of the county government.
List on the Governor’s Desk
Wavinya confidants who routinely brag about their proximity to power reveal that at least five of the original 22 COs are already marked for removal, with a draft reshuffle list said to be sitting on the Governor’s desk.
Observers say the planned shake-up is a high-stakes attempt by Wavinya to reassert control amid a losing battle for influence within the County Assembly, where she has struggled to secure the loyalty of MCAs and overrun its oversight mandate.
The Speaker, Anne Kiusya, is believed to now enjoy quiet support from a cross-party alliance that includes UDA, Maendeleo Chap Chap, and some Wiper Party MCAs, further complicating the Governor’s grip on the legislature.
As Machakos wades deeper into political and administrative uncertainty, the looming reshuffle could either reset her government—or deepen internal fractures and external hostilities. Only time will tell.
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