Contractors in Vihiga demand payment

Contractors have asked Governor Moses Akaranga to hasten their payments for projects undertaken in the last financial year.

They said most of them have been taken to the credit reference bureau for failure to repay the huge amounts in loans acquired from  banks to enable them undertake the projects.

"Auctioneers and banks have been following contractors every day for defaulting loans. Some of the contractors have had their property auctioned in the process," said Billy Nyonje, the contractors chairperson in the county.

Mr Nyonge said contractors have no plan to demonstrate against the governor in protest of their delayed funds, despite the difficulties they are undergoing.

"We have met the governor several times and he has promised to pay us our dues, but the wait has been too long. We are just asking him if he can hasten the programme a little bit because most contractors are suffering," he said.

He added: "People from outside are using our own humility and patience to say we are against the county leadership, which is not true. That is not our mandate or objective. We only worked, and therefore deserve payment."

He said Mr Akaranga had promised to pay contractors by the end of September, while the Finance executive said they would be paid by end of October.