The Council of Governors (CoG) has issued a stern warning to Controller of Budget Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o, accusing her of stalling county operations through what they describe as bureaucratic red tape and deliberate delays in releasing funds.

The governors now say they are prepared to seek her removal through Parliament.

Speaking in Wajir during the launch of the #DontHideMe campaign a county initiative supporting children with disabilities

Governor Ahmed Abdullahi criticized Nyakang’o for frustrating service delivery in the counties. He said her actions have crippled devolved functions and are hurting ordinary Kenyans.

“As a Council, we are ready to go to court and file a formal petition to both Houses for her removal. Her actions have made it nearly impossible for county governments to function effectively,” said Abdullahi.

He alleged that the Controller of Budget applies a double standard in managing national and county government funds, imposing stricter requirements on counties. “Why must we carry documents from Wajir all the way to Nairobi, queue for weeks in her office, and still face delays?” he asked.

The latest standoff is reportedly driven by a newly introduced set of compliance conditions dubbed the “blue checklist” which counties must meet before receiving disbursements.

Governors say these additional requirements were introduced without consultation and have further complicated access to funds.

“She introduced a new checklist at the last minute and refused to meet us or give an explanation. This behavior is not only high-handed but also designed to frustrate the devolved system,” said one governor, speaking on condition of anonymity.

According to multiple county chiefs, the delays have led to missed payments for April and May, severely disrupting service delivery, including education support and development projects.

“Despite presidential directives supporting timely disbursements, nothing has changed. Bureaucrats continue to hold counties hostage,” Abdullahi said.

He emphasized that such treatment undermines the constitutional promise of devolution and called for immediate action to address what he termed financial sabotage.

“Counties receive just 9% of the national budget. Yet accessing those funds is a nightmare,” he added.

With mounting pressure from frustrated citizens and stalled county services, governors are urging Parliament to intervene and hold the Controller of Budget accountable for what they call persistent obstruction of county operations.