Comedians Sammy Kioko, Tom Daktari Arrested While Protesting In Machakos
Comedians Sammy Kioko and Tom Daktari have been arrested by police outside the Machakos County Finance Offices after staging a peaceful protest over unpaid tenders.
The duo was arrested while staging a protest on Tuesday, focused on delayed payments amounting to Ksh19 million owed to Kioko and his associates by the Machakos County Government.
During the arrest, an ununiformed officer was seen wrestling Kioko to the ground before making away with him into the heavily guarded premises.
Witnesses alleged that the comedian suffered bodily injuries.
It was also not immediately clear whether the duo was taken to a police station following the Tuesday arrest.
Kioko, speaking at a past press briefing on Friday, March 27, invited media, contractors, and other suppliers to raise concerns about delayed payments, emphasising the need for collective action.
He urged fellow suppliers not to succumb to pressure, asserting that the fight for timely payments is a matter of principle and fairness.
In response to the concerns raised by the comedian, Machakos County Secretary Muya Ndambuki described the protest as a deliberate campaign of misinformation.
Ndambuki claimed that Kioko and his team were spreading false narratives that the county neglects suppliers and contractors.
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The county maintains that Kioko is not a registered director of any company currently doing business with Machakos County, which it cites as a key reason for withholding payment.
In previous interviews, Kioko revealed how the non-payment had negatively affected his businesses and personal well-being, forcing him to seek help from friends.
He added that several attempts to engage senior county officials, including Governor Wavinya Ndeti, were unsuccessful, leading to escalating accusations between the parties.
The county has, however, maintained that it has been settling all pending bills before it, including the ones inherited from the previous administrations.
Comedians Sammy Kioko, Tom Daktari Arrested While Protesting In Machakos
