Several people injured as chaos erupt during budget forums in Tharaka Nithi

Furious residents in Tharaka Nithi County have disrupted multiple budget forums for the 2025/2026 financial year, accusing the county government of corruption, empty promises, and gross mismanagement of public funds.

Violent confrontations have left several injured as political rivalries and deep-seated frustrations ignite a county on the edge.

It began in Tharaka Constituency, where fury spilt onto the streets as enraged residents stormed a public budget forum and ejected county officials with their message being 'no more empty promises, no more stolen billions'.

Within hours, protests broke out in Chuka Igambang’ombe and Maara constituencies as locals barricaded venues and demanded answers on how over Ksh.2.3 billion meant for development had vanished without a trace.

"Tumepewa budget ya Ksh.2 billion, tumesema watuambie Ksh.2 billion ya last year ilienda wapi? Kamati imeshindwa kutueleza. Tumewaambia waende wafanye hesabu ndiyo warudi,” said Daniel Moremi, a resident.

Another, Elspahs Ng’ang’a, added,: "Hiyo budget hatuitaki kwa sababu haitusaidii. Kama kwetu hakuna kitu, hiyo budget inatusaidia nini?"

In Igwanja, Ganga Ward, chaos turned bloody. Rival groups armed with chairs, stones, and sticks clashed violently, forcing police to intervene.

At the centre of it all, claims that Ganga Ward MCA Lizbeth Gatiria was behind the rowdy youth with alcohol to silence government critics.

"Watu wa Ganga mnafanyia watu vibaya kwa kutupiga. Tulikuja kuangusha budget kwa kuwa haitusaidii, na watu wa hapa wamenunuliwa pombe kutupiga,” another Jackson Mutembei said.

Across the country, frustration is thick. Residents are demanding a full audit of county finances, arrests of implicated officials, and an immediate halt to the budget process until accountability is served.

"Naambia EACC ije ifanye uchunguzi kwa sababu pesa zinatengwa zinaingia kwa mfuko wa watu. Gavana anaweka pesa kwa budget na hiyo pesa hatujui inaenda wapi,” added Humphrey.

The county government is yet to issue an official response to these developments.