By Martin Masai

Machakos, Saturday, August 30, 2025 — The Controller of Budget has frozen approval of the Machakos County Government’s budget after Finance CECM Onesmus Kuyu failed to provide comprehensive and time-bound responses to accountability queries raised by her office.

In a letter addressed directly to Kuyu and copied to the Clerk of the Machakos County Assembly, Controller of Budget Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o expressed dissatisfaction with Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s  government’s conduct, faulting it for giving vague assurances without binding timelines or supporting documentation.

She observed that while the county had acknowledged receipt of queries and promised responses, it had not indicated when these would be finalised or when evidence would be provided, making the replies inadequate.

Dr. Nyakang’o stressed that accountability requires clear, measurable commitments, not open-ended undertakings. She singled out a complaint by Lulu Kenya Ltd., which is owed Kshs. 9.29 million, noting that although the county said a comprehensive reply was being prepared, it failed to give a completion date or submit relevant documents.

The Controller concluded that the response was “not time-bound” and therefore unacceptable.
The Controller directed Kuyu to provide full responses to all outstanding issues with clear timelines and action plans by September 3, 2025.

Until this is done, she ordered that clearance of Machakos County’s budget remains in abeyance.

By copying her letter to the Clerk of the County Assembly, Dr. Nyakang’o signalled that MCAs must be seized of the matter and exercise oversight on how the executive is handling financial obligations and pending bills.

The suspension effectively paralyses county spending plans, meaning payments to contractors, suppliers, and programs cannot proceed without the Controller’s clearance.

The rebuke now places Finance CECM  and Governor Ndeti’s administration under intense scrutiny, deepening concerns about Machakos County’s fiscal discipline and its handling of public resources.

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