A disgruntled businessman resorted to removing iron sheets he'd supplied for the construction of a hospital in Uasin Gishu county over nonpayment by the contractor.
The supplier accused the contractor of constructing blocks in the Kesses Sub-county hospital for frustrating their business operations for not fulfilling payments.
"I have decided to come and collect my materials after the contractor did not pay. We have experienced losses but we have decided to take this action to cut on more losses," the businessman explained.
He added that efforts to get payment had been futile after the contractor remained unresponsive for months.
The project was for the proposed erection and completion of a modern sub-county hospital (maternity block, family planning block, dental block, kitchen, incinerator, laundry, and morgue).
At the site, he confronted the workers on the ground and urged his hired workers to carry all his materials out of the site.
He further urged the county government to intervene and hasten the payment following the delivery of the products.
In an effort to tame the rise in overdue payments which affects the cash flows of suppliers, the Prompt Payments Bill 2021 is currently under discussion in parliament.
In the proposed law, an accounting officer who, without reasonable cause or negligently fails to pay the amount due commits an offense and shall be liable to pay a fine not exceeding Ksh1 million.
The accounting officer also risks a jail term of up to five years or both the fine and imprisonment.
The bill further proposes a Ksh5 million fine or a 5-year jail term for an accounting officer who fails to return an invoice or pay the amount due by the prescribed payment date or interest.
A number of government agencies have committed to clear debts owed to suppliers after the release of money from the National Treasury.
