A Chinese company, Third Engineering Bureau of China City Construction Group Limited has stopped operations in Kisii County due to alleged harassment from county officials.
Reports indicate that some of the casual labourers of the company have sustained injuries from county askaris who are asking them to pay for water that is to be used in the construction of the road around Mosocho area.
“My workers have been fearing for their security as the county government has been asking us to pay for the water we fetch from a nearby river, something that has forced us to close our site at Mosocho,” Mr Jay Zhao is quoted by one of the local dailies.
One driver by the name Mr Oringo said county workers arrested a number of casual labourers in unclear circumstances during a lunch break.
"If they have issues, let them call the contractor and come up with a solution. It is unfortunate that one interested party has opted to fight the other," said Mr Oringo.
Reports indicate that the county officials are demanding for tax for the water which they use in the construction.
"We don't know under which law we are supposed to pay taxes for fetching water from a natural river,” said Mr Ombuna.