Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has hit back at County Assembly Speaker Anne Kiusya, accusing her of acting illegally and recklessly after she declared the Governor's memorandum on the Appropriation Bill, 2026 inadmissible.

Addressing the public in Machakos Town on Wednesday, Ndeti said there is no legal provision for a Speaker to reject a Governor's memorandum.

"I wish to clarify for the benefit of the Speaker that there is no legal provision for a Speaker to declare a Governor's memorandum inadmissible," Ndeti said.

The Governor said her memorandum was returned within the prescribed 14 days and was duly received by the Clerk of the Assembly on Monday, August 31, after the Assembly passed the Bill on August 18.

"According to Section 24 of the County Governments Act, the Governor must either assent to the Bill or return it with a memorandum giving reasons. Once returned, the Assembly can either accommodate the Governor's concerns or pass the returned Bill again with a two-thirds majority," she said.

"From that point, there was only one way forward: For the Speaker to subject the memorandum for debate and voting in the plenary. I find it reckless and irresponsible for a self-professed 'learned friend' to deliberately mislead the Assembly and the public."

Ndeti said the Speaker's actions will 'leave permanent footprints that will haunt her in future' and accused her of a "notorious trend of blatant disregard to constitutionalism and the rule of law."

She also condemned the Speaker's recent threats against journalists covering Assembly proceedings, saying freedom of the press is guaranteed under Articles 34, 118 and 196 of the Constitution.

"I join the media professionals in Machakos and across Kenya in condemning such impunity," she said.

The Governor listed seven key grounds on which Speaker Kiusya justified scrapping her budget: Revenue Management System - Sh126.9mdeleted.

Ndeti said the Assembly deleted the entire allocation for the Integrated County Revenue Management System, which she termed the backbone of financial independence.

She said revenue has grown from Sh1 billion before her administration to Sh1.4B in year one, 1.5B year two, Sh2.2B year three and Sh3.5B year four, with a target of Sh4.93B in 2026/27.

"Defunding the very digital system that collects this revenue guarantees revenue shortfalls that will cripple every other program," Ndeti said.

Roads budget - Reallocations over intergovernmental agreement: 

Ndeti defended plans to tarmac Lita-Miti Muonza, Masinga-Ekalakala-Kaewa and Mlolongo Police-Gossip roads, saying counties have tarmacked major corridors since 2013 including Makutano-Mwala-Kithimani, Kathiani-Kakuyuni-Kangundo and Kivandini-Masinga roads.

She said Katangi-Kithimani road was approved by the Assembly in 2024 and is still under implementation.

On County Administration - Sh90M cut, Ndeti said cutting each sub-county budget by Sh9.67M leaves 8 sub-counties with barely Sh 500,000 each for the year, translating to Sh47,000 per month.

The governor denied claims her officers failed to provide information on Ward Administrators, saying they appeared before committees on July 27, 2026.

On Urban Development - Sh78.32M, Ndeti said solid waste management outsourcing in the three municipalities is not privatization but outsourcing of operational services, anchored in law including the County Governments Act, 2012 and Machakos County Environmental Management Act, 2022.

She said Machakos has all regulatory frameworks to receive climate funds - including PFM Act, Climate Change Act 2016, National Climate Finance Policy 2018 - and has passed audits by National Treasury, Auditor General and World Bank, enabling it to receive FLLoCA funds.

The Governor said Machakos Youth Service is anchored in the Youth Empowerment Act, 2022 and Gender Equality & Community Empowerment Bill, 2025, and has transformed VTCs into job creation hubs.

She said bursary expansion is justified under the Basic Education Scholarships and Bursaries Bill, 2024 and a 2026 High Court ruling, and under an Intergovernmental Partnership Agreement with the National Government through Council of Governors.

Ndeti challenged MCAs to "stand on the right side of history," insisting the only lawful options under Section 24(3) are to amend the Bill accommodating her concerns or pass it without amendment with two-thirds majority.

The standoff leaves Machakos County without a legally approved Appropriation Act for the 2026/27 financial year, risking paralysis of services.

Machakos County Assembly Speaker Anne Kiusya in her response said the Assembly respects the Governor's office and remains open to constructive engagement.

"However, the dignity, independence and constitutional mandate of the Assembly must be at all times respected," Kiusya said.