This archive report was first published on 19 June 2020.
On June 18, 2020, Laikipia County Governor Ndiritu Muriithi announced that his administration would only pay pending bills owed to contractors and suppliers after verifying that they had completed their work.
Speaking at a stakeholder briefing in Nanyuki town, Muriithi stated that a recent audit revealed that some contractors had claimed for works, goods, and services that were not legitimate.
Laikipia County has outstanding bills amounting to over Sh. 400 million, dating back to the 2014/15 financial year, according to a 2020 Auditor General's report.
However, Muriithi's administration has introduced measures to support local traders, including a Sh. 2 billion Economic Stimulus Package in partnership with Kenya Commercial Bank.
Under the package, traders can access loans of up to Sh. 1 million at a subsidized interest rate of 7.5 percent, with a partial guarantee to enable those without collateral to access the money.
Additionally, 200 county staff have been trained as Business Development Officers to assist Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in coping with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and bouncing back to business.
By Martin Munyi
