October 3, 2024

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Kiambu MCAs, Nyoro clash over payment of pending bills

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A fresh row has erupted in Kiambu pitting Governor James Nyoro and Members of the County Assembly over payment of pending bills.

The differences turned ugly on Monday when Speaker Stephen Ndicho declared that the House had severed ties with the governor.

It all started on Friday last week when Assembly’s Public Accounts and Investment Committee and Budget and Appropriations Committee through Clerk Simon Rugu put out a newspaper notice asking disgruntled contractors and suppliers to provide relevant documents for verification.

 In the notice, the Ward Reps wanted the contractors to provide supporting documentation including contract papers, completion or inspection certificates and proof of credit financing from banks to assist them in oversight on the bills which are estimated to be over Sh2.5 billion.

But the Executive fired back at the Assembly and asked contractors and suppliers to ignore the House, in a move that fueled the escalating acrimony that was the subject of heated debate at the Assembly on Monday.

Extortion Finance executive Mburu Kangethe on Monday placed an advert in a local daily denouncing the one by the County Assembly. “Our attention has been drawn to a newspaper advertisement purportedly coming from the County Assembly of Kiambu requesting suppliers and contractors with pending bills to bring their documents to the assembly for auditing.

The County would like to advise the contractors and suppliers not to fall prey to such evil activities that may result in extortion and other unethical practices,” read the notice.

He said the county government continues to pay pending bills on a first-in first-out basis, but only for audited accounts that are passed as legible.

Yesterday, the two warring groups on the House continued to trade accusation over the issue with the faction allied to the governor led by Majority Leader Gideon Gachara and Majority Whip Samuel Wakarema, in a morning presser, accusing Ndicho and some of their colleagues of using their oversight role for selfish gain