Is Machakos county broke? Suppliers now demand Sh2 billion
Contractors and suppliers in Machakos have given the county government seven days to pay up debts amounting to close to Sh2 billion.
Members of the Machakos County Contractors and Suppliers Association said they would write a memorandum to Governor Alfred Mutua, whom they said they have been trying to meet, to demand payment.
Speaking on Saturday at Machakos showground, the association’s chairman Barclay Mutinda said the county government should “stop” any current contracts until all pending debts for contractors are settled.
“The delay in payment has led to the financial ruin of some our members, resulting in loss of property through auctioning, listing in [the] Credit Reference Bureau, illness and in some cases even stress and death,” he said.
Mr Mutinda said that if the government fails to pay up within seven days, the members would convene to decide the next course of action.
He said the Machakos county government had resorted to engaging contractors from outside the county in ongoing works.
Mr Mutinda said some of the unpaid contracts include those of work on roads, Machakos Level 5 Hospital, market sheds and Machakos People’s Park, and supply of water tanks.
