Wajir, Kenya, June 16, 2025 — The Council of Governors (CoG) has issued a stern warning to Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o, threatening to petition Parliament for her removal over what they describe as persistent delays in the release of county funds.
The governors accuse Nyakang’o of frustrating devolution through “intransigent and unreasonable” bureaucratic processes that have paralyzed county operations. Speaking in Wajir during the launch of the #DontHideMe campaign to support children with disabilities, Wajir Governor and CoG Finance Chair Ahmed Abdullahi said the Council is ready to pursue legal action to end what he termed as financial sabotage.
“I want to send a clear warning to her: as a Council, we are now ready to go the legal route,” said Governor Abdullahi. “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.”
Abdullahi blamed Nyakang’o’s office for introducing last-minute disbursement conditions, dubbed the “blue checklist”, which counties must meet to access funds. Governors say these new requirements were imposed without consultation, delaying the approval of county budgets and the release of April and May allocations.
“There seems to be one set of rules for the national government and another, more punitive one for counties,” Abdullahi noted. “Why should we carry invoices, contracts, and receipts all the way from Wajir to Nairobi and queue in her office for weeks?”
He accused Nyakang’o of bias and high-handedness, arguing that the delays have crippled essential services, disrupted development projects, and hindered counties from paying school fees and salaries.
“This is hell. Every county is going through the same ordeal. Are we truly committed to devolution?” he posed. “It’s time for action, not more talk.”
The governors’ criticism comes amid growing public concern over stalled county operations, despite repeated pledges from President William Ruto’s administration to ensure timely disbursement of funds to the devolved units. The standoff now sets the stage for a potential showdown between the CoG and the Office of the Controller of Budget in Parliament.
Written By Rodney Mbua
