Kajiado MCAs End Budget Stalemate, Approve Sh11 Billion Spending Plan
The Kajiado County Assembly has finally approved the Sh11 billion budget for the 2021/2022 financial year, ending weeks of deadlock that had stalled key county operations. The breakthrough came during a tense session chaired by Speaker Johnson Osoi, where Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) agreed unanimously to pass the County Budget Appropriation Bill after securing commitments from the Executive to address long-standing issues, including ballooning pending bills and delays in service delivery.
The approval follows a month-long standoff in which MCAs pushed back against what they described as financial mismanagement and unchecked growth in the wage bill. Finance Committee Chair and Kitengela MCA Paul Matuya criticised the Executive for allowing the wage bill to climb above the constitutional threshold, rising from the recommended 35 per cent to 39 per cent of the county budget. Other leaders, including Matapato South MCA Hosea Toshi and Mosiro MCA Hosea Tirishe, noted that while the delay had inconvenienced many, the revisions made were necessary to ensure accountability and improve service delivery. The leaders also called on the Implementation Committee to intensify oversight to guarantee proper execution of development projects.
The resolution drew praise from several MCAs who said the consensus demonstrated a renewed commitment to transparency and responsible governance. Leader of Majority Julius Moipai commended members for putting aside political differences to safeguard public interest, noting that the Assembly had demanded—and received—clarifications on critical issues such as contractor payments and salary delays. Residents and civil society groups, who had earlier expressed concern over stalled county programmes, welcomed the move, saying it cleared the way for schools, health centres and infrastructure projects to resume normal operations.
With the budget now in place, the Assembly has turned its focus to ensuring that the Executive follows through on its promises. MCAs have pledged to maintain heightened scrutiny of departmental performance, particularly in sectors that have struggled with delayed payments and incomplete projects. The Implementation Committee is expected to issue periodic reports as the county works to restore public confidence, reduce pending bills and align spending with development priorities. The coming months will test whether the county’s renewed commitment to oversight will translate into tangible improvements for Kajiado residents.