There was tension outside Machakos County offices on Tuesday after comedian Sammy Kioko and Tom Daktari were picked up by police during a protest over unpaid money.
The two had gone to the county’s finance offices to demand payment, with Kioko claiming the county owes him and his partners about Ksh19 million.
People who were there say the protest started calmly, with a few supporters gathered outside. But things quickly changed when police stepped in. At one point, an officer in civilian clothes was seen grabbing Kioko and forcing him to the ground before he was taken inside the compound.
Some witnesses said Kioko may have been hurt during the scuffle, though that was not immediately confirmed.
By afternoon, it was still not clear where the two had been taken.
Just a few days earlier, Kioko had publicly spoken about the issue, asking other suppliers and contractors to speak up about delayed payments. He said many people were struggling but staying quiet.
For him, he said, it was about fairness not just the money.
But Machakos County has denied the claims.
County Secretary Muya Ndambuki accused Kioko of misleading the public, saying the claims being shared do not reflect the true situation.
The county also questioned Kioko’s link to the payments, saying he is not listed as a director of any company currently doing business with the county.
Kioko, however, has in the past claimed that the delay has affected his business and personal life, such that he has had to seek assistance from his friends.
Kioko further claimed that efforts to communicate with senior officials, such as Governor Wavinya Ndeti, were not yielding much.
Despite the back-and-forth, the county has claimed that it has been paying pending bills, some of which were inherited from previous administrations.
This is not the first time the issue of delayed payment has come up in different counties.
