Agripreneurs working under the Machakos County Department of Agriculture have raised concerns over delayed payments for work they carried out in July, with affected workers saying they have yet to receive their July payments despite completing their assignments.
The agripreneurs say they have also not been paid for maize survey work conducted in July, leaving them frustrated after completing duties they were engaged to undertake on behalf of the county.
According to the complaint received by Nyakundi Report, the situation appears particularly unfair because agripreneurs in other counties have reportedly already received payment for similar work, while those working in Machakos are still waiting.
“They have not paid agripreneur their July payments and maize survey work that was done in July. Other counties have been paid except Machakos County.”
The affected workers say the delay has placed them in a difficult position because they have already incurred transport and other expenses while carrying out their assignments, yet there has been no clear communication on when the outstanding payments will be released.
For people working on short term assignments, payment delays can have a direct impact on their ability to meet basic expenses, particularly where the work involves travelling to different locations and collecting information from farmers and agricultural households.
Good morning Cyprian. Kindly expose machakos county ministry of agriculture. They have not paid agripreneur their July payments. And maize survey ,work that was done in july.other counties have being paid expect machakos county. The govonor is not even bothered
The complainant has also expressed frustration with the county leadership, alleging that the Governor's office has not appeared concerned about the delayed payments despite the workers having completed the assignments.
The matter now requires an explanation from the Machakos County Department of Agriculture, particularly on whether the July payments and maize survey allowances have been processed, whether funds have been released and what is causing the delay.
The County Treasury should also clarify whether the department has submitted the necessary payment documentation and whether there are outstanding approvals preventing the workers from being paid.
If the payments have already been processed, the county should explain why the agripreneurs have not received the money. If there is a delay in processing, the affected workers deserve a clear timeline rather than being left guessing about whether or when they will be paid.
The Controller of Budget and relevant county oversight institutions can also examine the matter if there are concerns about delays in processing payments for work already completed, particularly where similar workers in other counties have reportedly received their dues.
This is also an issue the Machakos County Assembly's Agriculture Committee can look into as part of its oversight role over the county department and expenditure related to agricultural programmes.
Agripreneurs are not asking for a favour. They are asking to be paid for assignments they say they have already completed.
The Machakos County Department of Agriculture should therefore come out clearly on the status of the July agripreneur payments and the maize survey payments, explain why the county appears to be lagging behind other counties and give the affected workers a definite timeline for settlement