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Ndeti said the Assembly had altered allocations by Sh853.96 million after the Executive presented its budget. She said the original plan was balanced and based on the 2026 County Fiscal Strategy Paper (CFSP), but the version passed by the Assembly on August 18 contained changes that she considers unlawful.
Speaking in Nanyuki, Laikipia County on Wednesday, during a stakeholders’ engagement, Gathungu said failure to pay for services and supplies was affecting businesses that depend on county contracts.
At the centre of the dispute are pending bills, development spending and changes made to the proposed allocations. MCAs have raised concern over the amount owed to suppliers and contractors, saying the debt has placed many businesses and families under financial pressure.
The county expects to finance the budget through Sh23.47 billion from the equitable share and grants, Sh20.86 billion generated from its own revenue, Sh3.2 billion from the Health Facilities Improvement Fund and liquor licensing, and Sh1.7 billion from projected cash balances.
Sakaja explained that the recruitment process had to start afresh after the Assembly rejected the first nominee, forcing the county government to form a new selection panel and conduct another competitive hiring process before identifying a new candidate.
The report, covering the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years, says the county expanded its legal department in 2025 by hiring 60 more advocates. The recruitment raised the number of in-house lawyers to 84 as Governor Johnson Sakaja's administration sought to reduce spending on outsourced legal services and deal with rising legal costs.
According to the petition, the Constitution established the party-list nomination system to expand representation for marginalised groups and ensure more Kenyans have an opportunity to take part in leadership. It argues that repeated nominations go against that objective by allowing the same individuals to occupy the positions term after term.
According to investigators, the three suspects were arrested following investigations into a violent robbery that occurred on June 26, 2026, in the Donholm area.
At the centre of the dispute is a growing fallout between Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration and Members of the County Assembly, with legislators accusing the executive of failing to provide sufficient information on key financial proposals before seeking approval.
While debating the proposal, MCAs pointed to Raila’s long involvement in Kenya’s public affairs, saying he played a key role in pushing for political reforms and opening up democratic space
The decision was triggered by a motion brought forward by Kinanie MCA Francis Kavyu, who faulted the County Executive Committee Member in charge of Finance for rolling out the new charges before the legal process was complete.
According to detectives, the suspects were apprehended inside the MCA's office after officers moved in and conducted a search of the premises.