Contractors decry living in poverty as counties delay to release payment

Kisii County Commissioner Tom Anjere inspected the newly constructed Tabaka Riosiri road in South Mugirango Sub County. Anjere is familiarizing himself with projects funded by the National Government. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

When Michael Opiyo (not his real name) got a contract to conduct maintenance on a gravel road in Nyakach in 2019, he believed that within months after completing the project he would be smiling all the way to the bank.

Mr Opiyo had invested heavily to implement the project and had been optimistic that the dark shadows of delayed payments that have affected several contractors in the past, would not befall him.