Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has intensified pressure on the county assembly to revisit and approve two pending bills she says are central to the county’s development agenda.
Her call follows the assembly’s decision to defer the Wikwatyo Fund Bill and the Annual Development Plan (ADP), a move she publicly criticised in a statement shared on X.
The governor argued that the delay directly affects economic support programmes meant for women and youth, groups that county governments often rely on to drive local enterprise growth.
She noted that the Wikwatyo Fund, in particular, is designed to provide accessible financing for small businesses, and she urged MCAs to “reconvene immediately and approve the Wikwatyo Fund,” according to her posted statement.
The fund has been one of her flagship empowerment pledges since taking office.
The stalemate comes at a time when counties across the country are finalising their development blueprints ahead of the next budget cycle.
In Kenya’s devolved governance structure, county assemblies hold the legislative authority to approve or reject executive proposals, making cooperation between the two arms essential.
Governor Ndeti linked the deferred bills to broader economic implications, saying the postponement “stalls opportunities and hope for Machakos residents.”
She framed the matter as urgent, citing the need to unlock funding streams that support youth employment and women-led ventures.
The governor has previously emphasised targeted economic programmes as part of her strategy to strengthen household incomes in the county.
In the same communication, she addressed rising concerns about solid waste accumulation in Machakos town and surrounding settlements.
She announced heightened enforcement against individuals and service providers who dispose of waste outside designated sites, warning that violators will face penalties.
Her statement added that illegal dumping threatens the county’s overall cleanliness and public health standards.
Waste management remains a recurring issue in many urban centres, where population growth and expanding informal settlements strain county collection systems.
Machakos has experienced similar challenges in past years, prompting several administrations to introduce periodic clean-up campaigns and by-law reforms.
Governor Ndeti pledged that her administration will enhance monitoring efforts to keep Machakos “clean, safe, and a model for other counties,” as stated in her post.
The county assembly is yet to issue a public response regarding the reconvening request or the future of the deferred bills