Grief as ‘depressed’ contractor dies awaiting Ksh.36M payment from Nairobi County gov’t
A family in Nairobi is grieving the death of their kin, who they say succumbed to depression triggered by prolonged financial distress linked to unpaid dues from the Nairobi County government.
According to the family, Beatrice Njeri died on Friday morning at Aga Khan Hospital after battling depression driven by mounting pressure from loans and outstanding debts.
They claim the Nairobi County Government owes her Ksh.36,787,221 for a 2.7-kilometre road contract identified as NCCG/M&W/T/125/2023-2024 in Ruai’s Kanisani area.
Led by James Kang’ore, a brother to the deceased, they say the financial strain took a toll on her health after they secured bank loans to finance the project.
“Tulifanya contract na tukadai deni kubwa ya barabara mpaka Njeri akaanza kushikwa na pressure sababu ya pressures za loan kwa hizo millions tulikuwa tumechukua kwa banks. Na pia tuko na madeni nyingi hatujawahi lipwa. We constructed the road in 2024 September and from that time alikuwa na pressures mingi sana na kwa hivyo tunaomba Governor asaidie tulipwe,” he said.
Another brother, Peter Wambugu Githua, said the family had made repeated follow-ups with county officials since 2024 without success.
“Tumekuwa na madeni hadi mama akashiwa na stress na depression hadi akatuacha. Governor alikuwa amesema atatulipa since 2024 mpaka saa hii bado. Tuko na deni za tractors, fuel na mambo mingi sana na tunaomba tulipwe. We have been writing to them but they are yet to pay,” he stated.
Ruth Wahome, a fellow contractor who worked alongside Njeri, said the team completed the Kanisani road project and raised their first invoice in October 2024 but have not received payment to date.
“Nilipigiwa simu na foreman wangu nikaambiwa Njeri ameaga. Tulipewa hiyo contract ya Kanisani na Njeri alisupply materials tukafanya kazi and the first invoice we raised it on October 2024 and still hatujawahi lipwa,” Wahome said.
“Njeri alifika mahali hadi pressures zikakua mingi vile machines zake zilianza kuchukuliwa na bank sababu ya loans. Mimi hadi gari yangu ilichukuliwa. Mimi naomba Nairobi County na other counties waache kuumiza contractors sababu wanakalisha pesa over two years…huyu mama has been very hardworking but now ako kwa kaburi. Tumedai over Ksh.36 million. Sasa watoto wake wamebaki maskini na bila mama na si vizuri. Tafadhali Sakaja, lipa pesa ndio hii familia isiangamie,” Wahome appealed, saying the financial strain led to the repossession of equipment and vehicles.
The family now wants the county government to settle the pending amount to enable them clear a Ksh.3.2 million hospital bill, which they say has led to the detention of Njeri’s body at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital over the outstanding balance.
They further state that the payment would help offset debts incurred from construction materials and equipment used in the Kanisani Road project in Ruai Ward.
