Makueni County Assembly Budget Chair Dennis Musyoka. Photo file. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Makueni Members of County Assembly (MCAs) have urged the County Executive to hit the ground running in implementing the Ksh 11.3 billion 2025/26 budget, which was unanimously passed by the Assembly on Tuesday.
During a heated budget debate session, the MCAs decried chronic delays in executing past budgets—delays they said had triggered unnecessary audit queries and undermined public confidence in the devolved system.
“It is unfair that we pass and appropriate the budget in June, yet come July through December, nothing happens. People just sit in offices idle, only to begin scoping and procurement in April, which leads to incomplete projects and audit problems,” lamented Majority Leader Kisungi Katete.
Katete added that by the time the Assembly handles the second supplementary budget in May, most projects remain incomplete, making oversight difficult.
Mavindini MCA Jonathan Kimongo and Ukia Ward MCA Jackson Ndolo echoed similar sentiments, noting that the sluggish pace of implementation was demoralizing the public, especially after actively participating in the budget-making process.
“Once this budget is passed, we expect its implementation to begin almost immediately. Any audit queries this year will be entirely self-inflicted,” Kimongo remarked.
The MCAs warned County Executive Committee (CEC) members against laxity, insisting that project scoping should be completed by July to enable procurement by September.
Revenue Targets and Trader Concerns
The Assembly also raised concerns over the county’s ambitious own-source revenue target of Ksh 1.5 billion. Ukia MCA Jackson Ndolo cautioned against burdening already-struggling traders through hiked levies.
“We urge the county to think innovatively to achieve this revenue target without squeezing the business community, especially in these difficult economic times,” Ndolo said.
Controversy Over Assembly Office Block Allocation
Nominated MCA Elizabeth Muthike questioned the Ksh 47 million allocation to Phase 3 of the County Assembly Office Block, noting that the project is under investigation.
“I have credible information that the project is being probed. Why are we allocating funds to a questionable project? I recommend this allocation be redirected to ward-based initiatives under the ward kitty,” Muthike proposed.
She also expressed doubts about the value for money spent on the project so far and insisted that investigations be concluded before further funding.
Budget Breakdown and Social Welfare Gains
Of the approved Ksh 11.3 billion, Ksh 7.7 billion will go toward recurrent expenditure while Ksh 3.6 billion has been earmarked for development.
A total of Ksh 39 million was allocated to the Ward Development Fund, with each ward receiving Ksh 3 million to enroll at least 600 vulnerable households—such as persons with disabilities (PWDs), women, and the needy—into the Mutula Care social protection program under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Nzambani/Ivingoni MCA Harrison Mutie hailed the inclusion of the Mutula Care program as the key highlight of this year’s budget. He called for the speedy formulation of supporting policies and robust audit frameworks to ensure effective implementation.
“The executive must fast-track policy documents and ensure a seamless rollout of the program. Proper audit systems are essential to uphold transparency and impact,” Mutie emphasized.
Key sectors that received significant allocations include Health, Education, Water, Agriculture, Infrastructure, and Devolution. MCAs vowed to maintain strict oversight to ensure timely and impactful service delivery.
