County executives locked out of offices over six months’ rent arrears

A rental premise in Bungoma town which houses Six County Ministers and which was locked 29/2/2016 by the owner for nonpayment of Six month rent amounting to Sh3 million.(PHOTO: TITUS OTEBA/STANDARD)

Six county executive members (CECs) spent most of yesterday outside their offices because they were locked out over rent arrears.

Gasper Waffubwa, the owner of the premise housing CECs, chief officers and some junior staff, told The Standard that the county government had not paid him rent for six months.

He further said that the tenancy agreement expired in October last year and it had not been renewed.

"I am unable to service a bank loan because the county government has failed in its part to pay my rent.

Unless they pay, I will not let them in.

This is business and it should generate profit not losses," said Mr Waffubwa.

He said that the county officials had also failed to pay water bills at the premises and that the commodity had been disconnected, posing a danger to health of the workers.

"I want my dues paid before they are allowed in or else let them remain out until everything is sorted out," he said.

Demand Notice

A demand notice by Kassim Sifuma and Associates on the building door reads: "Owing to the reluctance and or negligence by the county government of Bungoma to renew the tenancy agreement, which expired on 30th September last year, we have been ordered by our client to stop the county government from accessing our client's premises as from Monday."

Affected ministries include Education, Tourism, Health, Gender and Culture, Youth and Agriculture.

When contacted, the County Public Administration Executive Mokin Ptang'uny said they owe the tenant Sh3 million.

"The tenant visited me in my office and we talked over the issue.

We agreed that we will settle the matter once money is released to us by the national government and everything is complete," said Ptang'uny.

He noted that it was embarrassing for senior county employees to be locked out of the premises for non-payment of rent and promised that the matter would be resolved amicably.

By the time of going to press, all business in the building was paralysed and the executives and the other staff were seen in hotels.