This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
As the country grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, suppliers of goods to schools are facing a financial crisis due to delayed payment of Ksh 1.2 billion.
According to the suppliers, who addressed the press in Murang'a on Wednesday, they supplied merchandise to schools from January to March this year, but were not paid before the closure of the learning institutions.
Speaking on behalf of the suppliers, Samuel Muya, their spokesperson, said that they are facing deep financial challenges due to the delayed payment, as some items were procured on loan.
"We sourced for loans to buy and supply goods to schools and financial institutions are on our necks. We want the government to release some funds to schools to allow us to service our loans," Muya said.
Another supplier, Josephine Wanjiku, appealed to the government to pay for the goods already supplied so as to help them protect their property from auctioning.
"We urge the government to come to our rescue and give us some funds to cushion us from the financial hardships we are experiencing," Wanjiku said.
