Comedians Sammy Kioko and Tom Daktari Arrested in Machakos Over Payment Dispute Protest
News Updated: 31 March 2026 18:49 EAT
Sammy Kioko, Tom Daktari arrested after chaos at Machakos county headquarters
Sammy Kioko and Tom Daktari were on Tuesday arrested while staging a protest outside Machakos County Government offices over an alleged unpaid debt.
The two entertainers had gathered outside county finance offices demanding settlement of approximately Sh19 million they claim is owed for services and supplies delivered through associated business entities.
Witnesses said the protest began peacefully, with the duo calling for accountability and urging county officials to address pending payments owed to contractors and suppliers.
However, the situation escalated after police officers moved in to disperse the demonstrators, leading to the arrest of the two comedians as they continued to press their demands.
Videos shared online showed a tense confrontation, with Kioko being forcefully restrained by officers before being taken into custody alongside his colleague.
Reports indicated that Kioko may have sustained minor injuries during the arrest, though authorities had not immediately issued an official statement clarifying the circumstances.
The protest follows a long-running dispute in which Kioko has accused the county government of failing to honour contractual obligations despite goods reportedly being delivered.
At the centre of the disagreement are claims that Kioko’s associated company supplied items, including uniforms, to the county but has yet to receive payment.
County officials have, however, disputed the claims, maintaining that the comedian is not formally listed as a director in any company currently contracted by the county government.
The administration has further insisted that it has been working to clear pending bills, including inherited debts, and cautioned against what it described as misleading public claims.
The arrest has sparked mixed reactions among Kenyans, with some expressing support for the comedians’ demands for payment, while others questioned the legitimacy of the claims.
The incident has once again brought into focus the persistent issue of delayed payments to suppliers by county governments, even as calls grow for transparency and swift resolution of such disputes.
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FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD