Wavinya Ndeti’s leadership in Machakos is facing renewed scrutiny after comedian and entrepreneur Sammy Kioko announced the closure of his clothing business, Kioko Designs, blaming it on delayed payments from the county government.
Kioko’s statement exposes a grim reality for many local entrepreneurs who have supplied goods and services to counties but remain unpaid for months or even years. His story is not just about the death of a business but about how political offices continue to crush the dreams of hardworking citizens through negligence and broken promises.
For nearly two years, Kioko says he has been pleading with the Machakos County Government to pay him for the goods he supplied. The delay has now cost him everything his business, his employees’ livelihoods, and his peace of mind. Just last week, he was seen camping outside Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s office, demanding the payment he rightfully earned.
His cries, however, fell on deaf ears. Those who had promised to help him secure a meeting with the governor reportedly went silent, leaving him to face the humiliation and frustration alone.
Kioko, once celebrated for his humor and determination, has now been pushed to the edge by a system that fails to value accountability. In his statement announcing the shutdown, he wrote that despite giving his all to keep the business alive, the weight of financial pressure became too heavy to bear.
His words reflected defeat but also defiance, as he promised not to stop fighting for justice. “Not a goodbye, but a see you later. We won’t get tired of knocking the county offices,” he wrote, capturing the pain of every supplier still waiting for payment from the same county.
The closure of Kioko Designs has had devastating ripple effects. Dozens of his employees, who depended on the business to support their families, have been left stranded. Kioko shared screenshots of messages from staff pleading for help some saying they had been locked out of their homes due to unpaid rent.
The desperation in those messages shows the real cost of government failure. These are not statistics but real people losing their dignity because of delayed payments. “When it affects family and employees, it becomes my biggest nightmare,” Kioko wrote, making it clear that this is no longer just about money but about livelihoods destroyed by indifference.
Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s administration now faces tough questions from the public. Why does the county owe money to suppliers for nearly two years? Why must people camp outside government offices to beg for what they have already earned?
Kioko’s struggle is a reflection of the wider crisis of unpaid contractors across counties, where political rhetoric about empowering youth and supporting local businesses means nothing without action.
The collapse of Kioko Designs stands as a harsh reminder that behind every unpaid government contract lies a collapsing dream. Wavinya Ndeti cannot escape accountability for this injustice. Her silence and inaction speak louder than any promise she has ever made.
