By Anchor Writers
The dispute between Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti and County Assembly Speaker Anne Kiasya regarding the county budget has intensified, jeopardising the Assembly’s operations.
This follows a failed mediation led by Bishop Norman King’oo- the outgoing Catholic Bishop of Machakos.(Pictured below with Governor Wavinya)
Speaker Anne Kiusya has now followed up the stalemate with an official disclosure that the Assembly is struggling to meet its financial obligations.
In a notice dated October 9, 2026, Kiusya informed members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and staff that the Assembly was facing significant financial challenges affecting its ability to meet various obligations and sustain planned programmes and activities.
The notice, issued days after an unsuccessful mediation meeting between the two parties, revealed that the Assembly’s medical insurance had been suspended due to unpaid premiums.
This has left MCAs, staff, and their eligible dependants unable to access medical services under the scheme.
The Speaker revealed that the Assembly had received a notice from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) regarding unpaid income tax and housing levies for July to September 2026.
Additionally, some scheduled Assembly programmes and activities have been temporarily suspended due to the current financial constraints.
Kiusya said that the Assembly management was exploring all possible options to address the challenges, settle outstanding obligations, reinstate medical cover, and resume normal operations.
However, the notice did not specify the amounts owed in medical premiums or statutory deductions, nor did it explain the circumstances that led to the financial difficulties or directly link the crisis to the ongoing budget dispute with the county executive.
Nonetheless, the Speaker is on record accusing the governor of failing to send money to the Assembly after she withdrew fifty percent of Vote on Account of the Ksh 17bn budget.
However, its timing adds a new dimension to the dispute, which has continued despite attempts by religious leaders to broker an understanding between the Governor and the Speaker.
The mediation meeting, held at Bethel Resort in Machakos, was led by the outgoing Bishop of Machakos, Norman Kingoo and his counterpart from the Anglican Church of Kenya, Bishop Munuve with Bishop Kingoo as the convenor.
Wavinya attended the meeting accompanied by her County Executive Committee Members (CECMs), while Kiusya was accompanied by County Assembly Clerk Peter Mbatha, Minority Leader Francis Kavyu, and Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka.
The meeting began with breakfast and continued through to lunch. The Governor paid for both meals as the two sides failed to find common ground.
The Governor’s team were seeking the passage of her memorandum and the restoration of spending plans at the heart of the budget dispute.
However, Kiusya maintained that no money had been cut and that the relevant committees controlled the processes within the Assembly.
A proposal to involve legal teams in resolving the impasse was supported by the Governor’s side, but rejected by the Speaker, leaving the mediation without a breakthrough.
The talks’ failure left the dispute unresolved, with neither side making the necessary concessions to reach an agreement.
In is a classic example of excercise of the principle of Separation of Powers where the Governor pushes to have her way by trashing the legislative role in budget making, while the Speaker pushes back demanding that the executive respects the Assembly’s constitutional mandate.
The Speaker’s subsequent announcement has now made the Assembly’s financial and operational difficulties public.
The suspension of medical cover and the KRA notice raise questions about the institution’s ability to fulfil its obligations to members and staff, and its statutory responsibilities.
These developments also underscore the importance of distinguishing between the Assembly’s disclosed financial difficulties and their potential link to the broader budget dispute.
However, the notice does not prove that the standoff caused the unpaid premiums, tax liabilities or suspension of programmes.
The immediate challenge is to find a way to resolve the budget impasse and restore normal operations without compromising the constitutional roles of the county executive and the Assembly.
Concerns now extend beyond the political contest between Wavinya and Kiusya.
Ultimately, the county’s budget process must support the delivery of public services, and both arms of government must remain accountable for their financial decisions and obligations.
The manoeuvres come as the matter remains active in court and observers are questioning whether the governor does not trust the court process to resolve it.
It remains to be seen whether the two sides will return to the negotiating table following the failed mediation and the Speaker’s disclosure.
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