Kalonzo visits hospitalised Sammy Kioko as Machakos payment dispute intensifies
Former Vice President and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has visited entertainer and businessman Sammy Kioko at the Nairobi West Hospital, urging calm as a long‑running dispute with the Machakos County Government continues to unfold.
In a post on his official social media page, Mr Musyoka said he was at Kioko’s bedside “to stand with him and his family during this difficult time.”
He described Kioko as “like a son” and expressed his hope for the comedian’s quick and full recovery.
Mr Musyoka said he has also spoken to Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti, who is “deeply concerned” about the incident and has assured him that the matter will be handled fairly and transparently.
“My hope and prayer are that this issue will now proceed with calm, sobriety, and a clear focus on the facts,” Mr Musyoka wrote.
He added that what matters most “is Sammy’s well‑being, the dignity of his family, and the need for this matter to be concluded in a just and respectful manner.”
How the Machakos dispute escalated
The tensions stem from Kioko’s long‑running dispute with the Machakos County Government over alleged unpaid supplier dues.
Kioko has claimed that his company supplied inspectorate uniforms worth about Sh19 million during the 2023/2024 financial year but was only paid Sh 20,000, a transaction he shared publicly in online posts.
The county government, led by Governor Wavinya Ndeti (Wiper Party), has repeatedly denied that Kioko is a registered supplier.
It is saying that official records show the contract was awarded to Movata Designs, a company listed in county procurement documents.
The county has maintained that proper legal authorisation is required for anyone to represent the firm in payment claims.
Governor Ndeti acknowledged some of the goods were supplied but said inspection and formal acceptance could not be completed within the required timelines, leading the payment to be classed as a pending bill under public finance rules.
She noted the county has been auditing inherited pending bills worth over Sh3.8 billion and has already cleared some verified claims, with others to be addressed through upcoming budgets.
On the heels of Kioko’s protest outside the county headquarters, tension flared on 31 March 2026, when demonstrations over the unpaid dues reportedly turned chaotic and Kioko was allegedly assaulted by enforcement officers before being taken to hospital.
Governor Ndeti condemned the violence, urged restraint, and reiterated that peaceful, lawful processes should guide the resolution.
In a separate meeting on April 2, 2026, Governor Ndeti hosted Kioko’s sister, Maureen Mwende Mutua, promising that verified claims by Movata Designs — the firm involved — would be paid according to established procedures.
Contractor unrest and wider concerns
Kioko’s protest did not happen in isolation.
Several other contractors in Machakos County have also accused officials of intimidation and delayed payments, saying they have struggled to recover millions owed to them after fulfilling contracts.
Some warned they would camp outside the governor’s office until their grievances were addressed.
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