A dramatic standoff unfolded in Machakos County on Tuesday after a local contractor, citing over a year of non-payment by the county government, took matters into his own hands by sealing off the offices of the Athi River Ward MCA, an act he claims was his last resort following multiple failed attempts to seek redress through official channels.
The contractor, who oversaw the construction of the ward office using personal finances after reportedly being engaged by county officials under Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s administration, says he has been driven to financial ruin while waiting for payment that never came.
“I have visited the county offices more times than I can count,” he said.
“At first, they kept telling me to be patient, that my cheque was being processed. Then they stopped answering my calls altogether.”
According to witnesses, the contractor arrived at the premises early in the morning and used chains and reinforced metal locks to secure the entrance, placing a handwritten notice at the gate stating that the premises would remain closed until his dues, reportedly running into millions, are settled.
This development has sparked anger among area residents, many of whom rely on the MCA’s office for essential local services.
“This office has been rendered useless for almost a year now,” lamented one resident.
“The tug-of-war between the governor, the contractor, and our MCA is not just political it’s sabotaging our development.”
Attempts to reach Governor Ndeti’s office for comment have yielded no official statement, even as frustrations within the community continue to mount.
The contractor, meanwhile, insists he will not reopen the facility until he is paid in full.
“This is government property but it was built with my money. And until I am compensated, no one will access it. I have waited long enough.”
Fellow contractors from across Machakos County have now rallied behind the aggrieved builder, expressing solidarity with his bold move and echoing claims of systemic delays in payments for county projects, some alleging that their own invoices have remained unsettled for years, despite repeated follow-ups and mounting debts.
“What our colleague did is what many of us have been thinking of doing,” said a contractor from Mwala sub-county.
“We are tired of chasing shadows. We deliver on our end yet the county behaves as though we are beggars.”
In a growing wave of dissent, at least three other contractors have reportedly vowed to barricade or repossess public structures they constructed, warning the county government that if payments are not processed promptly, they too will take “visible and lawful action” to recover their dues.
With tensions clearly building, nyakundireport.com is closely monitoring developments on the ground and will continue to expose such cases until accountability is served.
We invite all affected parties, contractors, suppliers, artisans, and anyone who has engaged in good faith with county governments but found themselves caught in endless bureaucratic delays, silent offices, and broken promises, to come forward and share their stories.
