Machakos County disputes Sh19M claim as supplier row turns contentious

A simmering dispute over an alleged unpaid supply contract in Machakos County has escalated into a public standoff, with county officials firmly denying that businessman Sammy Kioko is a recognised supplier, even as protests and a violent confrontation bring the issue into sharper focus.

At the centre of the row is Kioko’s claim that he is owed at least Sh19 million for uniforms reportedly supplied to the county government, an assertion authorities have now publicly rejected.

In a strongly worded response, County Secretary Muya Ndambuki dismissed Kioko’s claims, stating that official records do not support his involvement in any contractual arrangement with the county.

“It is unfortunate that certain individuals who cannot be directly identified as contractors as per our records have run a smear campaign meant to hoodwink the public that the county government is non-responsive to pending bill issues,” Ndambuki said.

He emphasised that the county’s accounting books contain verifiable records of all legitimate suppliers and insisted that Kioko’s name does not appear in any of them.

“Certain persons are presenting themselves as persons who were contracted with the county government, but when we look at the books, we cannot directly place them in any contractual arrangement,” he added.

“In the absence of that direct placement, then we are constrained as to how we invite them to the table for discussion. A person not privy to a contract is a stranger to that contract."

This position effectively shuts the door on any direct engagement with Kioko unless he can provide documentation linking him to an official contract.

Governor Wavinya Ndeti has since stepped in to clarify the administration’s position, while also addressing the broader issue of pending bills inherited by her government.

In a public statement, the governor expressed concern over the incident in which Kioko was reportedly roughed up during protests.

“First and foremost, I express concern over the unfortunate incident that occurred in Machakos Town on 31st March, 2026. As a County Government, we do not condone violence in any form and we urge all parties to exercise restraint and allow lawful and orderly processes to prevail,” she said.

However, Ndeti maintained that Kioko is not a recognised supplier, instead identifying a different entity as the official contractor.

“Our records indicate that Mr. Sammy Kioko is not a registered supplier of the County Government of Machakos. The entity that supplied Inspectorate uniforms is Movata Designs,” she clarified.

A key issue raised by the county government is whether Kioko has any legal authority to act on behalf of Movata Designs, the firm acknowledged as having supplied the uniforms.

According to the governor, any such claim must be backed by formal documentation.

“For any individual to lawfully act on behalf of the company, proper legal authorization must be presented, including a valid Power of Attorney, formal appointment by the company, or representation through a qualified advocate,” she stated.

Without this, the county argues, Kioko cannot legitimately claim payment, even if the supplies in question were indeed delivered.

The dispute also sheds light on the broader challenge of pending bills within the county, a longstanding issue affecting multiple administrations across Kenya.

Governor Ndeti revealed that her government established a Pending Bills Committee to verify the legitimacy of claims, following recommendations from oversight bodies.

The verification exercise, conducted with input from the Office of the Auditor-General and the Office of the Controller of Budget, reviewed inherited claims amounting to Sh3.8 billion.

Despite the scale of the pending bills, the county says it has made measurable progress in settling verified debts.