Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti struggled to read her own speech during the State of the County Address, forcing her to stop halfway through in front of the county assembly on February 25, 2026. Watch her half baked speech.
The moment unfolded live as she stood at the podium inside the Machakos County Assembly chambers. Video clips spreading fast online show her pausing repeatedly, stumbling over words, and looking visibly uncomfortable with the prepared text. At one point she tried to push on, but the words just wouldn’t come smoothly.
She eventually gave up and left the address unfinished. Instead of awkward silence or criticism from the floor, the MCAs broke into cheers, clapping, and even a standing ovation. Some accounts describe it as the assembly members celebrating the abrupt end.
This happened during her annual State of the County Address, a key moment where governors outline achievements, ongoing work, and plans ahead. Wavinya’s speech carried the theme “Chakula Mezani, Pesa Mfukoni” – food on the table, money in the pocket – and touched on food security, social programmes, road grading, education access, and new county headquarters.
She highlighted grading over 3,500 km of roads, progress on technical training, and issuing land allotment letters. But the delivery faltered early, turning what should have been a confident rundown into a viral clip of hesitation.
Social media lit up right away. Videos from Standard Digital, Mutembei TV, and others racked up views and comments by the thousands. People posted laughing emojis, called it embarrassing, and questioned how a prepared speech could trip her up so badly.
Some joked the text might have come from AI without proper checks or suggested writing it in Kikamba next time for easier reading. Others took it as fresh proof of leadership struggles, pointing to ongoing tensions in the county like poor roads, pending bills, and fights with the assembly speaker.
The reaction from MCAs stands out most. Their cheers and claps came across as relief or outright joy that the speech ended quickly. Political observers note the county has seen friction between the governor’s office and the assembly for a while – boycotts, suspensions, and public spats.
This ovation could signal deeper dissatisfaction or just the mood in the room that day. Wavinya later posted thanks to residents who followed online or gathered outside, keeping a positive tone despite the stumble.
For many in Machakos, the incident feels like more than a one-off awkward moment. The county deals with real pressures – bad infrastructure, high expectations from devolution funds, and voters watching closely ahead of future elections.
When the leader charged with updating everyone on progress can’t get through her own report, it fuels talk about capability and preparation. Critics online said things like “even reading a sentence is a problem” or “time for someone new.” Supporters might argue nerves happen to anyone or blame the script rather than the speaker.
The assembly moved on after she stepped down, but the clips keep circulating. In Kenya’s political scene, moments like this stick around, replayed in WhatsApp groups and evening news. They spark laughs for some and serious questions for others about how leaders present themselves.
Wavinya Ndeti won office promising change and delivery for Machakos residents. Her address aimed to show that progress, from farms to classrooms to offices.
But the halting delivery and the cheering response turned the spotlight elsewhere – on a governor who couldn’t finish her own story and an assembly happy to see it end. As February 26 carries on, the video stays trending, reminding everyone that in county politics, words matter, and sometimes they don’t come easy.
