Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has pledged to assist comedian Sammy Kioko in resolving a KSh19 million unpaid payment dispute with the Machakos County Government.
The matter came to light after a visibly emotional Kioko appeared on Oga Obinna’s live show, sharing the struggles he has faced due to the county’s failure to pay him for services rendered.
Following the heartfelt appeal, Obinna contacted Sonko, who invited Kioko to his office to meet with him and Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti. Sonko said the three parties would negotiate to reach an amicable solution.
“Fanya hivi, mtume kwangu. Akuje kesho tumtafute gavana polepole, tujue vile tutafanya. Tufanye tu chini ya maji tuone ni proposal gani atapewa. Nimekuwa nikiona iyo maneno kwa mtandao,” Sonko said.
Kioko recounted the financial and personal challenges he has endured since the payment issue began. He said he was initially hopeful when he landed the tender, which was his first with the county, admitting that he was “so green.”
In his struggle, Kioko even protested outside the Machakos county offices but received no help. Instead, he faced allegations of having political motives, which he vehemently denied. He revealed that he had to sell his car to finance his sister’s specialized medical treatment in India.
“All the county is saying is Kioko is playing politics. Which politics am I interested in? If the national government was funding her, would I sell my car? Wanasema national government inanifund kuharibia sijui nani jina. Ningekuwa hapa napiga kelele?” Kioko said, wiping tears from his face.
Amid the hardship, Kioko expressed gratitude to ordinary Kenyans who supported him financially. He set up a pay bill account, through which donors contributed amounts ranging from five shillings to a thousand shillings, with over 300 people helping him during this difficult period.
“We did a pay bill and I want to thank Kenyans for the support they gave me. Nilikuwa nakaa kwa nyumba naona five bob, fifty bob, hundred bob au a thousand bob. Hii portal inaonyesha kuna donors up to 300 na wanajaribu kutusaidia,” he said.