The political onslaught against former National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman Ndindi Nyoro has taken a new turn after Deputy Majority Leader Owen Baya asked the Treasury to release geographical data on development projects per county and constituency.
While addressing the House on Wednesday, the Kilifi North Member of Parliament demanded that the Treasury release the data by April 30 to allow MPs to assess whether some constituencies have received disproportionately higher allocations.
“The Ministry of Treasury should now submit geographical information of development projects per county and constituency by 30th April 2025,” Baya asserted.
Adding, “Honourable Speaker, this is fundamental. This is very important. Because we have had skewed development in this country, where other regions have had more resources and other regions have had fewer resources, areas... that have been purposely underdeveloped and underserved because of political reasons or otherwise.”
The Budget and Appropriations Committee, created after the 2022 polls and headed by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, with Teso South MP Mary Emase as vice chairperson, was tasked with coordinating, controlling, and monitoring the national budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and equitable resource distribution across the country.
The committee's membership included MPs Mathias Robi, John Murumba, John Wanjiku, Paul Mwirigi, Benjamin Mejjadonk, Samwel Chumel, Joseph Lekuton, David Ochieng, Rahab Wachira, Florence Sergon, Japheth Mokaya, Michael Muchira, Ole Ntutu Kitilai, Ali Wario Guyo, Christopher Aseka Wangaya, Bernard Masaka Shinali, Samuel Onunga Atandi, Ruth Adhiambo Odinga, Millie Odhiambo, and Babu Owino Paul.
But on Tuesday, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, while addressing legislators, accused some members of the powerful Appropriations Committee of allocating their constituencies and counties more money than others.
“This House will not sit and allow members who sit in the Budget and Appropriations Committee to use the position they hold in that committee to appropriate money to only their constituency at the expense of Kenyans,” insisted Ichung’wah.
This appears to have opened a can of worms in what seems like a continued attack against legislators allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. While Nyoro has not outrightly declared support for Gachagua, he has not denounced him either—a move that political analysts say has placed him in the crosshairs of President William Ruto’s allies.
“The problem has come because it is people who have vested interest in those committees where they sit that then use that opportunity to put projects in their constituencies and counties far from what was intended by the public participation,” insisted Ichung’wah.
Under Nyoro’s leadership, Kiharu Constituency has experienced development, particularly in the education sector. In November 2024, Nyoro launched over 100 projects valued at Ksh100 million, focusing on upgrading 33-day secondary schools and 21 public primary schools, constructing seven administrative offices for chiefs and their assistants, and implementing 54 environmental initiatives in public institutions.
In January 2024, Nyoro introduced the "Masomo Bora" programme, reducing school fees for day secondary students to Ksh1,000 per term, benefiting approximately 15,000 students across 62 schools.
Comparatively, Nyoro's approach has set a benchmark for other MPs, with several legislators visiting Kiharu to study and potentially replicate these development models in their constituencies.
This seems to have caused friction, with some legislators now believing his constituency is receiving more money than others.
“I want to see how much has been invested in my constituency, how many projects are in my constituency, and how many projects are in the county that I come from. And I also want to see how many projects are in the constituency of the Honourable Speaker sitting and also how many are in his county,” said Owen Baya.
It remains to be seen whether the Treasury will release the data and whether or not the data will prove the assertions of Ichung’wah and Baya right or wrong.
Ndindi Nyoro remains a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
