Machakos county government denies Sh2 billion debt claims

Machakos County government has denied claims that it owes contractors and suppliers in excess of Sh 2 billion.

"The claim that we have pending bills of Sh 2 billion we owe our contractors and suppliers is outrageous, malicious and intended for political expediency", said a statement from the county government.

The statement was signed by executive committee members Elizabeth Nzyoka (Finance and Revenue Collection), Joshua Musili (Transport,Roads,Public Works and Housing) and Francis Maliti (Water, Irrigation and Sanitation) on behalf of the government.

The government admitted it owed the entrepreneurs money, putting the figure at below Sh 200million and dismissed the Sh2 billion as a "cooked" figure.

"Those who think devolution presented a chance for them to do shoddy jobs and loot public resources through cowboy contracts will not be tolerated in Machakos", added the statement.

The statement comes days after the contractors through their newly formed Machakos County Contractors and Suppliers Welfare Association gave the government a seven days ultimatum to pay them their outstanding dues or face unspecified action.

They claimed the outstanding debts date back to 2013/14 financial year and their efforts to have audience with the Governor have been futile.

They expressed their willingness to work with the government for it to realize its set governance and development agenda for the county.

"The false and malicious debt claims carried by a section of the media signified a rather elaborate scheme to depict the Government in bad light even when our development record is now nationally and internationally acclaimed", charged the terse statement.

The statement said the contractors and the government met last month and agreed on efficient ways of working together in which a suitable formula for both parties was entered.

The government went on to claim that some of the contractors who met last Friday in Machakos were politically instigated to cause crisis and destabilize the government.

"They are being influenced by well known political leaders who have nothing to show for the many years they have been in leadership", added the statement.

The statement further said attacks and schemes to fight Machakos governor Dr.Alfred Mutua and his government are not new adding they began during the 2013 campaigns only gathered momentum after he took oath of office.