COUNTY ASSEMBLY REJECTS GOVERNOR LUSAKA’S MEMORANDUM ON 2025/2026 APPROVED BUDGET
BUNGOMA, Monday 30th June 2025 – The County Assembly of Bungoma has unanimously rejected a memorandum by Governor Ken Lusaka seeking to alter the 2025/2026 County Budget that had earlier been approved by the House.
During a Special Sitting held today, all 53 Members of the County Assembly present voted in support of a report by the Liaison Committee that recommended the House dismiss the Governor’s reservations. Only 9 members were absent from the 62-member Assembly, far exceeding the constitutional threshold of two-thirds (42 members) required to overturn the memorandum.
The Speaker of the County Assembly Hon. Emmanuel Situma had earlier in the day committed the Governor’s memorandum to the Liaison Committee, which has been handling budget matters following a legal dispute over the term of the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Governor Lusaka had returned the approved budget to the Assembly claiming that it violated the law, citing excessive amendments beyond the statutory 1% threshold, unlawful reallocation of funds from various departments to the County Treasury, interference with the doctrine of separation of powers, conflict of interest, and asserting that budget-making is solely a County Executive function.
In a hard-hitting rebuttal, Members of the County Assembly dismissed the Governor’s assertions, stressing that budget-making is a collaborative process involving multiple stakeholders, including the County Assembly and the public.
“The County Assembly is not a rubber stamp for the Executive’s budget proposals,” declared the Liaison Committee in its report.
The Committee emphasized that the law gives the Assembly a clear and constitutional role in refining and balancing the budget to reflect the public interest.
The Members also accused the Governor of acting in bad faith, stating that the tone of the memorandum was confrontational and disrespectful to the Assembly. Earlier attempts by the Governor to withdraw the memorandum were declined by the House.
During a tense afternoon session, the Speaker directed a roll call vote to ensure transparency. All 53 members present voted in support of rejecting the memorandum.
While moving the Committee’s report, Deputy Speaker Hon. Stephen Wamalwa, who also chairs the Liaison Committee, defended the Assembly’s actions as lawful and grounded in the Public Finance Management Act, the principles of public participation, and observance of statutory timelines.
“The memorandum was inadequately informed about the budget approval process and failed to consider the report of the Liaison Committee,” the Committee noted, further stating that the document exposed significant gaps in understanding public finance law, constitutional interpretation, and institutional roles.
The Committee recommended that the Assembly invoke Section 24(3)(b) of the County Governments Act, 2012 and uphold the Bungoma County Appropriation Bill, 2025 as passed on 18th June 2025 — without any amendments.
By County Assembly Communications Team
