TAITA TAVETA – A sharp division has emerged among contractors in Taita Taveta County following accusations that a rogue faction disrupted official operations to demand payment of pending bills outside an agreed county framework. The Taita Taveta Contractors Association chairman, Ben Kibengo, publicly condemned the protesting group for storming the office of the County Executive for Finance. He emphasized that their coercive actions undermine the collective negotiations already established with the county leadership to clear outstanding debts.
Kibengo highlighted a major point of friction within the business community, revealing that the vocal faction is demanding compensation for projects completed as recently as 2025 while much older debts remain unpaid.
He pointed out that several local contractors have been waiting for settlements dating back to 2013 and urged the aggrieved group to respect the existing payment queue. Furthermore, Kibengo strongly criticized threats made by some protesters to remove hospital patients and block public services, terming such tactics inhumane, unlawful, and unrepresentative of the wider association.
Beyond the immediate dispute over payments, the association chairman issued a stern warning to county officials regarding alleged malpractices in the procurement process. Kibengo claimed that certain contractors have been improperly awarded more tenders than legally permitted through backdoor dealings with county staff. He called for strict adherence to procurement laws and demanded that the county government prioritize genuine Taita Taveta locals when awarding public contracts.
The ongoing clash underscores the persistent challenge of pending bills that continues to strain relationships between county governments and business owners across various devolved units. As the local administration navigates these competing demands and allegations of irregular procurement, the dispute remains a developing story with broader implications for fiscal transparency and contractor relations in the region.
