By Andrew Kariuki
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has defended her administration over claims of non-payment raised by comedian Sammy Kioko, stating that he is not a registered supplier of the county government.
In a detailed statement issued following recent events, the governor said county records do not recognise Kioko as a contractor, clarifying that the entity that supplied inspectorate uniforms was Movata Designs.
“Our records indicate that Mr. Sammy Kioko is not a registered supplier of the County Government of Machakos. The entity that supplied Inspectorate uniforms is Movata Designs,” she stated.
The governor added that for any individual to act on behalf of a company, they must provide proper legal authorisation, including a valid Power of Attorney, formal appointment or representation through an advocate.
Ndeti acknowledged that supplies were made by Movata Designs but noted that only partial delivery was completed towards the end of the 2023/2024 financial year, making it impossible for inspection and acceptance to be conducted at the time. As a result, the payment was classified as a pending bill in accordance with public finance procedures.
The statement follows an incident on March 31, 2026, in Machakos Town, where Kioko and digital creator Tom Daktari were arrested while staging a protest over alleged unpaid dues amounting to Ksh19 million. The governor expressed concern over the incident and called for restraint, stating that the county does not condone violence.
Ndeti further outlined measures taken by her administration to address pending bills, including the establishment of a Pending Bills Committee and a verification team formed on the recommendation of the Office of the Auditor-General and the Office of the Controller of Budget.
According to the governor, the verification process reviewed inherited pending bills amounting to Ksh3,812,256,795, of which Ksh2,126,781,000 were deemed eligible for payment, while Ksh1,685,475,795 were classified as ineligible due to issues such as unverified legal fees and incomplete documentation.
She said that since assuming office, the county has paid Ksh642,345,765 from the eligible historical pending bills, leaving a balance of Ksh1,484,435,235 to be settled in phases through supplementary budgets and future financial plans.
Ndeti also noted that within the current financial year, the administration has already settled KSh1,395,643,990 in pending bills over a seven-month period.
On current pending bills amounting to Ksh1,967,674,645, she stated that Ksh249,849,469 has already been processed, Ksh300 million allocated in the supplementary budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, Ksh846 million proposed for the 2026/2027 budget and the remaining Ksh572 million scheduled for settlement in the next financial year.
The governor reiterated that all payments must follow strict legal, audit and financial frameworks, including the First-In, First-Out principle, to ensure fairness.
She also cited delays in disbursements from the National Exchequer as a contributing factor affecting the pace of payments across counties.
Ndeti urged suppliers to use formal engagement channels, stating that demonstrations and media campaigns cannot override established legal processes.
She maintained that her administration remains committed to settling all verified and legitimate claims, assuring that no rightful payment will go unpaid.
