Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has rejected the county’s Sh17.8 billion 2026 budget, accusing MCAs of unlawfully reallocating Sh853.96 million from critical programmes. Ndeti returned the Appropriation Bill to the Assembly, citing cuts to youth empowerment, bursaries, garbage collection and contracted roads. She also opposed a Sh130 million increase in the Assembly’s development budget. The Assembly must reconsider the disputed allocations or secure a two-thirds majority to override her veto.