Makindu Ward MCA Stephen Nzivo Kilonzo Speaking in the Assembly. Photo Courtesy 
By Andrew Mbuva
Makindu Ward MCA Stephen Nzivo Kilonzo, popularly known as Details, is under fire from his constituents after being accused of unilaterally altering the 2025/2026 Ward Development Budget.
Tensions boiled over on Thursday during a public participation session on the County Finance Bill, 2025, when residents confronted the MCA over the changes.
In a viral video clip, the gathering quickly turned hostile as angry constituents declared they would no longer participate in such forums until he explained why their priorities had been disregarded.
The meeting eventually collapsed in disarray, with residents storming out in protest and leaving the MCA and accompanying County Assembly officers stranded.
Residents argue that the ward budget was carefully crafted through a series of cluster and sub-ward consultations, culminating in a final document that was approved by the Governor and validated by the County Assembly.
They accuse the MCA of betraying that process by introducing new projects outside what was originally agreed upon.
Among the controversial allocations, residents point to a Ksh 3 million provision for hospital bills and medical implants, another Ksh 3 million for the recruitment of four casual nurses, and about Ksh 1 million for gravelling and spot murraming of roads and trenches within the ward.
The MCA is further faulted for redirecting over Ksh 4.7 million towards the opening, grading and murraming of several access roads—including those linking Miangeni Academy to Kwa Makanga, Stock Yard to Ngukuni, Mombasa Road through Kanaani Market to Ikoyo, Nysis Hotel to the airstrip, Kalima Ndogo to St. Matthew, and a string of others across the ward.
In addition, he is accused of pushing for Ksh 2.7 million to equip the Syengoni borehole and another Ksh 1.6 million for the rehabilitation and extension of the Katheani and Kwa Mbuli boreholes.
In a strongly worded petition addressed to the Speaker of the Makueni County Assembly, and copied to the Governor, the Clerk of the Assembly, and the Budget and Appropriations Committee, residents denounced the MCA’s changes as “deeply undemocratic” and a violation of their constitutional right to public participation.
“This action directly undermines the principles of transparency and accountability. The MCA’s actions disrespect the very foundation of our governance,” the petition reads.
They are now demanding that the original budget—crafted and approved through their participation—be reinstated in full.
They further argue that some of the MCA’s allocations, such as the hiring of nurses, fall under recurrent expenditure and should not be funded through a development budget.
Each ward is awarded Ksh 33 Million for development in each financial year.
The MCA has not yet issued an official response to the accusations.
