Officials drawn from different Trade Unions in Machakos addressing the Media. 
By Virginia Siebella.
Machakos County is facing a looming governance and service delivery crisis following the County Assembly's failure to approve the 2026/2027 budget, months after public participation on the spending plan concluded in May.
The prolonged delay has sparked outrage among workers, unions and residents, with fears mounting that essential county services could grind to a halt while thousands of employees risk going without salaries.
Eight trade unions have condemned the assembly's inaction, accusing Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) of neglecting their constitutional responsibility. The unions include the County Government Workers Union, the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives, the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers, the Kenya Environmental and Public Health Union, the Kenya National Union of Dieticians and Nutritionists, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), among others.
The unions have announced plans to stage demonstrations on Monday, saying they will march to the Machakos County Assembly and remain there until their concerns are addressed.
Speaking on behalf of the unions, Kenya National Union of Nurses Machakos Chapter Chairperson Hesbon Mwakavi warned that the county's health sector faces a bleak future if the budget impasse persists.
"Hospitals cannot function without funding. The continued delay in approving the budget threatens healthcare services and puts patients at risk," he said while reading a joint statement.
Mwakavi warned that more than 7,000 county employees face delayed or unpaid salaries, describing the situation as a violation of fair labour practices. He added that over 1.3 million Machakos residents stand to suffer as a result of the Assembly's failure to pass the Budget and Appropriation Bill.
Clinical officers also faulted the Assembly, noting that the Constitution requires county budgets to be approved before the start of a new financial year. They observed that the June 30 constitutional deadline had long passed, yet the county continues to operate without an approved budget.
Bonface Mitambo of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUSCO) accused the Assembly of developing a pattern of delaying crucial financial approvals, arguing that the practice ultimately punishes ordinary residents rather than political leaders or the county executive.
"The people who suffer are wananchi who depend on county services, not politicians," he said.
County Government Workers Union representative Ruth said the unions would not relent until the Assembly fulfills its constitutional mandate.
"We will camp at the County Assembly on Monday until our grievances are addressed. We cannot continue watching essential services and workers' livelihoods being jeopardised," she said.
However, Machakos County Assembly Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka shifted blame to the minority side, accusing it of slowing down the approval process by pushing for amendments to the budget.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Chairperson of the Assembly Budget Committee were unsuccessful. Although he promised to comment on the matter, he had not responded by the time of publication.
