NAIROBI, Kenya – Governors have launched a scathing attack on Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o, accusing her of paralyzing county operations by refusing to approve expenditure plans for April and May.
The Council of Governors (CoG) is now threatening to petition Parliament for her removal, citing “unreasonable” conduct and systemic bias against devolved units.
CoG Chairperson and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi on Monday warned that the council is prepared to pursue legal means to oust Nyakang’o, accusing her office of single-handedly undermining devolution.
“We will petition both Houses of Parliament for her removal because she has made it nearly impossible for the average Kenyan to benefit from county government services,” said Governor Ahmed.
He was speaking in Wajir during the launch of the #Don’tHideMe campaign, an initiative aimed at empowering children with disabilities.
According to the CoG, counties across the country are yet to receive funds for April and May because Nyakang’o has declined to approve their expenditure plans.
The delays, governors argue, have disrupted essential services including healthcare, bursary programmes, and infrastructure development — directly affecting millions of Kenyans who depend on devolved functions.
“Because of her bad manners and constant mistreatment of the counties, we are yet to receive funds,” Ahmed said. “The Controller of Budget’s office has become the biggest threat to devolution today.”
‘Two Sets of Rules’
The governors also accused Nyakang’o’s office of operating with double standards — applying lenient scrutiny to national government spending while imposing strict, last-minute conditions on counties.
A major point of contention is a new “blue checklist” introduced by the Controller’s office — a set of requirements county officials say was imposed without prior consultation and only at the tail-end of the funding requisition process.
Governors claim the checklist has significantly slowed down disbursements, adding unnecessary bureaucracy.
“Why should we carry invoices, contracts, and receipts from Wajir to Nairobi and queue in her office for weeks just to access money that has already been budgeted for?” posed Ahmed.
Governors from multiple counties, speaking on condition of anonymity, echoed the same frustrations, accusing Nyakang’o of refusing to meet with the CoG or offer any explanation for the funding delays.
Despite President William Ruto’s public assurances that county disbursements would be timely, the governors say little has changed.
“The President has spoken on this issue, but government bureaucrats are still making life difficult for everyone. It’s time for action, not more talk,” said Ahmed.
Institutional Reforms Demanded
As the standoff escalates, the CoG is pushing for urgent reforms in how the Office of the Controller of Budget interacts with counties.
The governors argue that unless checks and balances are enforced equally — and with transparency — devolution risks being eroded from within.
“Every county is going through the same ordeal. As a country, we must ask ourselves: Are we truly committed to devolution?” Ahmed asked. “Counties receive only 9 per cent of the national budget — why is it still so hard for them to access their share?”
