Contractors hold county staff captive over Sh207m

Nandi County Governor, Cleophas Lagat addresses participants during the Nandi Investment Conference and Exhibition held at Kapsabet Showground on April 08, 2015. Eight top officials of the Nandi County Government were held hostage for five hours on Monday by road contractors over non-payment of Sh207 million. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA |

What you need to know:

  • Eight top officials of the Nandi County Government were held hostage for five hours by road contractors over non-payment of Sh207 million.
  • The amount is owed for works carried out over the last one year.
  • The officials were held hostage on Monday evening at the Kapsabet Town Hall after a meeting between the officials and the contractors turned chaotic.
  • The over 120 contractors stormed out of the meeting and chain-locked the officials inside, saying they would not let them out until they were paid their dues.

Eight top officials of the Nandi County Government were held hostage for five hours by road contractors over non-payment of Sh207 million.

The amount is owed for works carried out over the last one year.

The officials were held hostage on Monday evening at the Kapsabet Town Hall after a meeting between the officials and the contractors turned chaotic.

The over 120 contractors stormed out of the meeting and chain-locked the officials inside, saying they would not let them out until they were paid their dues.

FINANCE EXECUTIVE ACCUSED

They accused County Finance Executive Charles Muge of frustrating their efforts to ensure they are paid by the county government.

The officials were Mr Muge, County Secretary Francis Ominde, roads engineer Alex Baigut, head of procurement Mechack Tankoi, county chief of staff Timon Kosgey, head of revenue collection Hellen Rotich, county legal officer Annah Munya and Nandi North Sub-County administrator Sammy Keter.

One of the contractors, Mr Kipchirchir Matata, was restrained by his colleagues after he charged towards Mr Muge, accusing him of withholding payment for roadworks done within Kapsabet Town.

Mr Matata and fellow contractors David Ng’etich and Ishmael Choge said banks had threatened to attach their property over unpaid loans they had taken to fund the works.

SHOUTED DOWN

Mr Muge was shouted down when he sought to explain that the payments were only delayed, after a human rights activist, Mr Shadrack Tarno, wrote protest letters to the director of budget at the National Treasury over poor works. Mr Tarno wanted all payments to contractors stopped.

Mr Muge said the Treasury eventually ordered the county to stop making any payments until an inspection of the works was done.

After the Monday standoff, Mr Ominde addressed the protesting contractors, saying the county government would start making payments from Friday.

The contractors welcomed the news and agreed to allow the top government officials to go home.