Comedian and entrepreneur Sammy Kioko has lifted the lid on a Sh19 million tender dispute with Machakos County, alleging that senior county officials told him that even legal action would not guarantee payment.

Speaking during an interview on TV47’s This Friday With Betty hosted by Betty Kyallo on Friday, February 20, 2026, Kioko recounted how he and his sister Maureen secured a tender to supply uniforms and related items to the county government.

“We supplied and at least for the first time, the county of Machakos has acknowledged that we supplied. We’ve had meetings with them; at least now the meetings are about payments. When we started, the talks were, ‘We don’t know Sammy Kioko,’” he said.

Kioko explained that the tender required Sh12 million in capital. After banks declined to finance them, his sister raised 20 percent of the amount, while he sourced the rest. Besides uniforms, they supplied “boots, berets, belts, and other items.”

However, what followed was a year-long wait without payment.

The situation escalated when Kioko claimed he was warned against pursuing the matter publicly or legally.

“The first time I went to the procurement officer, Mr Mathuki, he told me, ‘Kioko hizi sarakasi unafanya online, if we decide not to pay you, we won’t. Na hakuna mahali utatupeleka. Hata ukitupeleka kortini, as a county, we will say this is a pending bill, and we don’t have money.’”

He alleged that a senior enforcement officer echoed similar sentiments. “Alisema, ‘Tokeni hapa na huyo sista yako; mkitaka mtupeleke kortini, hapa siyo kortini.’”

As the payment delays persisted, Kioko said the financial strain took a heavy toll on his sister, who was unwell and preparing for childbirth.

Her car was auctioned and her business equipment seized. “All I wanted was an audience with the Machakos governor, just to find a solution to help my sister,” he said.

Despite the ordeal, Kioko expressed gratitude for public support, saying, “People have been so supportive and I’m so thankful.”