Mombasa county government frustrates 70 contractors over unpaid Sh150 Million bills

70 companies in Mombasa County are on the brink of collapse as their owners express fear for the future of the businesses following the County Government’s failure to pay for services and goods they supplied since 2013.

The contractors have said they feel discriminated against by the County government given some of their counterparts had been paid ignoring them, a situation that has left their establishments face auctioneers over huge unattended overdue bank loans over the years.

The contractors’ spokesperson has said the county government had appeared to be selectively paying contractors by studying the owner’s backgrounds making some of them not to receive their dues since the County government’s inception to a tune of Sh150 Million.

“We are seeking to be paid up to Sh150 million, an accumulated amount of what they owe the companies. When we sought the audience of the County Finance and Economic Planning Executive, she said we should exercise patience but nothing positive has come from them,” he said.

He declined being named for fear of victimization.

Some of the contractors supplied branded uniforms worth Sh2.13 Million to the public service board in August 2016 and have not been paid despite supplying more others to other departments afterwards.

Since 2013, some of the companies supplied construction materials while others were contracted for various tasks at the County Governor’s events under different ministries at the Mombasa County government.

One of the companies offering interior design services having delivered furniture, decor and other office accessories to the governor’s office at Sh1.06 Million reports not to have been paid since May last year.

Mombasa County Communications Director Richard Chacha has dismissed the amount the suppliers were alleging as owed saying the County only owes them Sh50 Million which will be paid in due course.

"The suppliers met the County Finance and Economic Planning Executive fortnight ago and they agree to get the payments done once the IFMIS system is open," said Mr Chacha.

He added that it had been agreed that priority will be accorded to those whose bills have remained unsettled for the longest time.