By Martin Masai
A political storm struck Machakos County this evening after 24 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) boycotted a deceptively convened “consultative” meeting by Governor Wavinya Ndeti.
The invite to the meeting written by County Secretary Dr. Muia Ndambuki purported the meeting to involve both the governor and the House Leadership, essentially involving top officials of the assembly, including the Speaker Anne Kiusya.
But it was a meeting designed to lobby support for a controversial Sh570 million loan from KCB and the approval of Her Proposed Wikwatyo Fund.
Only 34 MCAs out of the 59-member chamber turned up — mostly loyalist Wiper MCAs — leaving the Governor far below the constitutionally required two-thirds majority needed to approve county borrowing.
The invitation letter, dated February 21, 2026 and signed by County Secretary Dr. Muya Ndambuki, called for a “consultative meeting” between the Governor, Members of the County Assembly and House leadership at 4pm at the Governor’s office. The Speaker was copied in the invitation.
Leaked Agenda
Sources say it quickly became clear that the real objective was to persuade MCAs to approve a Sh570 million facility from KCB to sustain the county’s swelling salary payroll. The second item was support for the Wikwatyo Fund , a bill that died in the last sitting of the assembly after it was unprocedurally brought into the house unprocedurally. This fund ostensibly seeks to provide the governor with a kitty to dish out public funds to women and youth.
Our sources said the Speaker initially intended to attend the meeting until the agenda leaked. She changed her mind and so did the 24 MCAs.
Borrowing for Salaries
At the heart of the resistance is the purpose of the loan. Critics argue the Governor is seeking to borrow not for development, but to keep what they describe as an illegally bloated workforce afloat.
Deputy Minority Leader Francis Ngunga told The Anchor that the opposition would not not support the move. “We will keep off borrowing money to sustain illegally employed workforce,” Ngunga said. “I wish we were borrowing to build a historic project or to buy medicines for the sick.”
The statement reflects a widening ideological split in the Assembly — one side framing the loan as fiscal necessity, the other as reckless debt to finance recurrent expenditure. The bid ro borrow comes on the heels to a unpaid bills bill now teetering at Kes. 8 billion, up from Kes. 2.5 billion when Wavinya took office in 2022.
Two-Thirds Wall
For the borrowing to pass, at least 40 MCAs must approve it.
With only 34 attending an informal lobbying session — and 24 openly boycotting — the Governor’s path to securing two-thirds support appears blocked.
This marks her first formal attempt to engage the Assembly since last year’s failed push to impeach Speaker Kiusya — a move that left the House sharply divided and politically wounded.
Since then, the Assembly has largely restricted itself to obligatory approvals, with the Wiper-led Executive struggling to push substantive agenda.Tonight’s boycott signals that the war lines remain firmly drawn.
Bribery Claims Cloud Meeting
Even more explosive is that word had gone round that each MCA who attended the meeting would receive Sh200,000 as inducement to support the borrowing.
It is claimed that those who attended collected Kes. 10,000- regardless.
While the Kes.200 allegations remain unproven, they have inject a toxic layer into an already fragile political environment- that the executive is willing to bribe MCAs to approve more cash to sustain its politics. Neither the Governor nor her office has publicly responded to the bribery claims.
Deputy Governor Missing
In a move that has raised eyebrows, Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi was not invited to the meeting, with sources saying that both the boss and her deputy have not spoken since November last year.
His absence has sparked speculation about internal fractures within the Executive at a moment demanding fiscal unity.
Machakos County now stands at a fiscal and political crossroads.
Borrowing Kes. 570 million is not a footnote. It is a binding financial decision that commits future county revenue. But tonight’s events show that the Governor cannot quietly marshal the numbers behind closed doors.
Toda’s bounced date comes days ahead of the resumption on Wavinya’s State of the County Addressed , which she skipped last year. It is believed the events of today may recur when Wavinya steps on the floor of the house to deliver her address.
It is no secret at all that the Assembly is divided. The Speaker is distant. The opposition is defiant. Neither did the storm gather slowly.
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