Governors, MCAs feud derails devolution, stall key projects

Ongoing power struggles between governors and Members of county assemblies (MCAs) are threatening to bring key services to a standstill in several devolved units, exposing the growing dysfunction in county governance.

According to the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, bitter feuds between county executives and MCAs are sabotaging budgets, development plans and overall service delivery.

“These wrangles are affecting service delivery significantly,” said Nyakang’o, describing the situation as a serious threat to the effectiveness of devolution.

According to the Star, the CoB said the working relationship between some county assemblies and executives has deteriorated to the point of being “convoluted” and unproductive, with political rivalry often overriding the needs of citizens.

Bungoma, Machakos, Isiolo, Nyamira and Meru are among counties that have been most affected, while others like Kakamega, Kericho, Kilifi, Wajir and Nandi have experienced their share of conflict, all of which is either rooted in interference from the executive or internal supremacy wars among MCAs.

“If county priorities are not agreed upon, implementation becomes lopsided. That means citizens don’t receive the services they deserve,” Nyakang’o cautioned.

She added that the growing mistrust between governors and MCAs is disrupting coordinated implementation of projects.

“We’ve seen cases where MCAs insist on spreading resources thinly. Because of mistrust, they can’t focus on completing one project before moving to another. Everyone wants their share, regardless of the bigger development picture,” she said as quoted by the Star.

Citing Meru as a key example, she noted that MCAs often push to control development funds, which leads to incomplete projects and waste. “The result is scattered, half-baked projects that serve no one.”

She also accused some assemblies of deliberately frustrating the executive for selfish gain. “The assembly sometimes acts not out of necessity but to punish the executive. Unfortunately, this only ends up hurting the people they represent.”

In Bungoma, the clash between the county assembly and the executive has taken a legal turn. The MCAs disbanded the official budget committee and formed an ad hoc one that altered the executive’s proposals.

“There is a serious case in Bungoma. The assembly disbanded the budget committee and formed an ad hoc one, which then mutilated the proposed budget. They passed their version using coercive tactics,” said Nyakang’o.

The move led to a legal dispute that saw courts step in and bar the release of funds, freezing all county operations and halting implementation of Governor Kenneth Lusaka’s development plans.

Nyamira is also facing a deep political crisis following a failed attempt to impeach Governor Amos Nyaribo. The fallout saw Speaker Enoch Okero ousted by a section of MCAs who felt betrayed when he declined to back the impeachment.

The result was the emergence of two parallel assemblies. One group, led by Okero, held sittings under the banner Bunge Mashinani, outside the official chamber, while the other continued operating normally. In a surprising twist, the county executive began submitting official business to the Okero-led group.

The Senate moved in and established a committee to investigate the standoff, while a Bomet court later declared Bunge Mashinani illegal and ordered those involved to be surcharged.

Eventually, Thaddeus Nyabaro of Ekerenyo ward was elected speaker. A committee later recommended the removal of 12 MCAs allied to Okero for missing eight consecutive sittings. However, the suspended MCAs obtained a court order lifting their suspension and are now also challenging Nyabaro’s election.

Isiolo county assembly is also in disarray, with two individuals – Abdullahi Banticha and Mohamed Koto – both claiming to be the legitimate speaker. The confusion follows the impeachment of Governor Abdi Guyo, which was later overturned by the Senate due to procedural flaws.

The assembly’s clerk, Salad Guracha, who had signed Banticha’s appointment notice, later issued another gazette revoking the appointment and backing Koto. Ironically, Koto had earlier suspended Guracha.

Banticha moved to court, and Justice Hellen Wasilwa of the Employment and Labour Relations Court issued conservatory orders temporarily stopping his removal. The leadership wrangles have left the assembly highly unstable.

In Machakos, repeated leadership disputes have sparked chaos within the assembly, culminating in indefinite suspension of proceedings by Speaker Ann Kiusya on April 8. The problems began when she announced the removal of minority leader Julius Ndawa, who was accused by his party, Maendeleo Chap Chap, of disloyalty.

Tensions flared again when Kiusya tried to remove majority leader Nicholas Nzioka, viewed as an ally of the executive. The chamber descended into shouting and physical confrontation, forcing the speaker to suspend sittings.

The Senate Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee took over the matter and has been pushing for restoration of order. Nzioka defended himself before the Senate, accusing the speaker of overstepping her role.

“She usurped the assembly’s legislative mandate. Her decision to suspend sittings lacks a legal basis and is impairing governance and service delivery,” said Nzioka.

More than two months later, the Senate committee directed the Machakos assembly to resume sittings and conduct its business within the law. The committee also condemned the physical altercations witnessed, warning that such behaviour violates Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity.