Budget and Appropriations Committee Chair and Kako/Waia MCA Dennis Mutinda Musyoka during the Supplementary Budget Presentation in the Assembly on October 21, 2025. Photo Courtesy. 
By Andrew Mbuva
The Makueni County Assembly has approved a landmark Ksh. 13.1 billion supplementary budget while simultaneously adopting sweeping reforms aimed at tightening project accountability and safeguarding the welfare of community volunteers overseeing local development.
During a special sitting held on October 21, the Assembly adopted the 2025/2026 Supplementary Budget No. 1, marking one of the most significant financial decisions in the county’s history.
The budget, presented by the Budget and Appropriations Committee chaired by Kako/Waia MCA Dennis Mutinda Musyoka, represents an increase of over Ksh. 1.56 billion from the original estimates, with 37.19 percent allocated to development — surpassing the constitutional threshold of 30 percent.
Key sectors received substantial funding boosts, signaling renewed commitment to improving infrastructure, healthcare, and livelihoods.
The Roads Maintenance Fuel Levy received an increase of Ksh. 370 million, bringing its total allocation to Ksh. 517 million for road network improvements. Other notable allocations include Ksh. 365 million for the County Secretary’s office to enhance administrative coordination, Ksh. 269 million for Land, Urban Planning, and Environment to support climate programs, Ksh. 167 million for Health Services, Ksh. 103 million for Water and Irrigation, and Ksh. 101 million for Agriculture.
To ensure transparency and effective implementation, the Assembly directed the Department of Infrastructure to submit a detailed list of roads benefiting from the expanded fund by November 30, 2025.
The County Treasury was also instructed to provide a breakdown of its revised Own Source Revenue targets and submit an audit of all stalled or incomplete projects since devolution by December 15, 2025.
Alongside the budget, the Assembly adopted a crucial oversight report by the Committee on Devolution, Public Participation, County Administration, and Special Programmes, chaired by Mbitini MCA Benard Mutua Tivu (Mbitini).
The report exposed long-standing injustices against Project Management Committees (PMCs) — community volunteers tasked with supervising development projects — who have often been sidelined and underpaid.
In a bold move to restore fairness, the Assembly directed that PMCs and contractors must now be paid simultaneously, with all pending PMC dues cleared within 14 days.
The Executive was further instructed to conduct mandatory training for PMCs, review engagement guidelines within 90 days, and strengthen supervision to ensure accountability among county engineers and project officers.
“These resolutions mark a turning point in how Makueni manages development,” said Hon. Tivu. “No volunteer should oversee a multimillion-shilling project and then wait months to be paid.”
The Assembly emphasized that the new measures will not only protect community volunteers but also improve project quality and ensure value for money for Makueni residents.
