A Kisii Member of County Assembly has raised an alarm over alleged grand corruption in the county’s treasury, pointing at delayed payments to contractors after having completed their work and verified by relevant authorities.
Speaking in his Sameta backyard on Tuesday, Mr Evans Siko said certain 'dark forces' in treasury were soliciting illegal payments from the contractors on a promise to finalise their payments expeditiously.
Siko said the exercise was affecting morale among the contractors due to delayed payments and called upon the county government to investigate the matter and sack guilty officials.
“Personally, I have received a lot of complaints from disgruntled contractors who revealed that officers from treasury ask for bribes to release funds for work done. That is illegal and the county government should investigate the matter and sack those involved. Corruption should never be tolerated and we have to fight for openness in government offices,” he said.
Siko revealed that he was drafting a motion which would see contractors receive their dues two weeks after official inspection by relevant authorities on projects done.
“I am finalising on a motion that will compel the treasury to release funds for work done within a maximum period of two weeks. We don’t want to see people making numerous trips to the treasury to receive their payment even up to six months. That is unacceptable,” he said.
However, Kisii Contractors Association Secretary Mr Miruka Makori could neither deny nor admit frustrations among contractors but pointed out on unnecessary delays in releasing of funds.
“Well, I don’t know whether members are asked to pay bribes to get their dues but I can confirm that people take up to six months to get paid. That is now our concern,” he said on phone.