Machakos County Governor Wavinya Ndeti has broken her silence following a dramatic incident in which comedian Sammy Kioko was allegedly assaulted while pursuing payment claims linked to county supplies.
In a detailed public statement issued after the incident that occurred on March 31, 2026, the governor condemned the violence, urging calm and adherence to lawful processes. She described the altercation in Machakos Town as “unfortunate,” emphasizing that her administration does not condone any form of violence.
The incident sparked widespread public debate after reports emerged that Kioko had been attacked while following up on payments he claimed were owed for supplies made to the county government. However, Governor Ndeti sought to clarify the situation, distancing Kioko from any formal contractual relationship with the county.
According to the governor, official records show that Kioko is not a registered supplier. Instead, she identified Movata Designs as the entity contracted to supply inspectorate uniforms. She added that any individual seeking to act on behalf of the company must present proper legal documentation, such as a power of attorney or formal authorization.
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Ndeti further explained that the payment dispute stems from procedural issues related to partial delivery of supplies toward the end of the 2023/2024 financial year. Due to the timing, inspection and formal acceptance of the goods could not be completed, leading to the classification of the payment as a pending bill under public finance regulations.
The governor used the opportunity to shed light on the broader issue of pending bills in the county, revealing that her administration inherited liabilities amounting to KES 3.8 billion. Following recommendations from oversight bodies, including the Office of the Auditor-General and the Office of the Controller of Budget, a verification committee was established to audit all claims.
The audit revealed that KES 2.12 billion constituted legitimate pending bills, while KES 1.68 billion was deemed ineligible due to issues such as incomplete documentation and unverified legal fees.
Since taking office, Ndeti stated that her government has already settled over KES 642 million of the verified historical pending bills, with plans in place to clear the remaining balance through supplementary budgets and future financial allocations.
Additionally, the county has reportedly paid KES 1.39 billion in pending bills within the first seven months of the current financial year, signaling what the governor described as a strong commitment to restoring fiscal discipline.
On current pending bills totaling nearly KES 2 billion, she outlined a structured payment plan, including funds already processed, allocations in the supplementary budget, and future provisions to ensure all legitimate claims are settled.
Governor Ndeti also pointed to delays in disbursements from the National Exchequer as a contributing factor to payment delays, noting that the issue affects counties nationwide.
She urged suppliers to remain patient and follow official channels, cautioning that public pressure and demonstrations cannot override legal and financial procedures.
Reaffirming her administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, Ndeti assured suppliers that all verified claims would be honored, calling for cooperation and mutual respect as the county works to resolve outstanding obligations.
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