Nakuru County Governor Lee Kinyanjui at a past event. [Photo|weeklycitizen.co.ke]
Nakuru County Government has vowed not to pay unscrupulous traders who are demanding payment from the devolved unit.
Governor Lee Kinyanjui said his administration will first audit all pending bills that have accumulated to Sh3 billion since 2013 to establish their validity.
Kinyanjui has been under intense pressure to pay debts owed to suppliers and contractors who were engaged for services during the tenure of immediate Governor Kinuthia Mbugua.
But on Friday the county boss said he will not settle the pending bills before authenticating whether they were genuine.
"My administration will not entertain cowboy contractors out to steal from the public through fictitious bills," he said.
Speaking to journalists in his office, Kinyanjui said the county government must get value for money on all its expenditure.
"All we want to do is ensure that services were rendered to the people of Nakuru before making the payments," he added.
Joseph Kiuna, the newly appointed Finance executive, promised to make the payment after the audit, reiterating only genuine debts would be settled.
"We won't pay briefcase companies and phantom suppliers who colluded with the previous administration to siphon money from county coffers," Kiuna stated.