Supplier detains Laikipia fire engine over Sh26m debt

A supplier has impounded the county's fire engine, demanding to be paid a Sh26 million debt.

The Sh33.1 million fire engine had been taken to Achelis Material Handling Ltd for repairs two weeks ago, but the managers decided to keep it until the county paid a debt for an excavator supplied mid-last year.

John Kamau, a spokesman for the firm, said the county government had been non-committal on when it would pay the debt.

"The county treasury officials have been saying they will pay after receiving money (from the national government) but since the National Treasury released cash two weeks ago they have not been answering our phone calls," said Mr Kamau.

He said the fire engine, which had been delivered to Nyahururu town in May last year, needed repairs on the tank, siren and windscreen - all costing Sh100,000.

But the firm's credit committee decided not to release it to the county after the repairs until the debt was cleared.

Governor Joshua Irungu has denied reports that the fire engine was impounded and accused his political opponents of spreading rumours.

"The fire engine has gone for repairs and will soon be back," he said.