In the shadow of Kenya’s devolved governments, a silent killer stalks hardworking contractors: unpaid bills. What begins as a promise of lucrative public works contracts spirals into crippling debt, repossessed homes, shattered families—and, too often, death.
The latest heartbreak unfolded in Nairobi on February 14, 2026. Beatrice Njeri, a dedicated road builder, breathed her last at Aga Khan Hospital, succumbing to depression fueled by years of financial torment. Her family points the finger squarely at Nairobi County Government, which owes her Ksh36.8 million for a 2.7-kilometer road in Ruai’s Kanisani area—work completed in September 2024, invoiced in October, and still unpaid.
Brothers James Kang’ore and Peter Wambugu Githua watched their sister crumble under the weight of bank loans taken to fund the project. “We took huge loans… pressure from banks, debts everywhere,” Kang’ore said. Machinery repossessed, vehicles seized, relentless stress—until depression claimed her life. Now the family battles a Ksh3.2 million hospital bill, with Njeri’s body detained at Kenyatta University Teaching Hospital until debts are cleared. Fellow contractor Ruth Wahome’s plea cuts deep: “Counties are hurting us… over two years without pay. She was hardworking, now her kids are orphans and poor. Governor Sakaja, pay up before more families collapse!”
This isn’t an isolated nightmare. Kenya’s 47 counties owe contractors and suppliers a staggering Sh177 billion (some reports put it at Sh176.9 billion as of mid-2025), with delays stretching years due to mismanagement, favoritism, or sheer fiscal chaos. The Controller of Budget and Senate warnings ring loud: pending bills threaten business survival and livelihoods.
Siaya County stands as a glaring example. Contractors there issued fiery ultimatums in late 2025, threatening to paralyze operations over unpaid dues. Led by chairman Francis Amolo, they accused treasury officials of favoritism—paying cronies while small players starve. Protests highlighted hundreds of millions in arrears, with contractors facing auctioneers, hiding from debt collectors, and some even dying from stress-related illnesses. While direct suicides tied to Siaya aren’t widely documented, the county’s chronic delays mirror the national plague: families pushed to the brink as breadwinners battle for survival.
In Kisumu, the crisis turned fatal. In October 2025, prominent road contractor Engineer Hannington Juma (also known as Juma Hannington Raburu) jumped to his death from the second floor of Lake Basin Mall—moments after visiting KRA offices there. Family and reports linked the suicide to crushing financial pressure, including a reported Sh300 million tax penalty amid unpaid government works. Police investigated, but the tragedy spotlighted how unpaid county and national dues, combined with tax demands, drive despair. Kisumu’s high pending bills have long fueled contractor anguish.
Mombasa fares little better. Inherited debts topped Sh3 billion, with partial clearances under the current regime leaving fresh arrears. Contractors endure repossessions and defaults, though specific death cases remain less publicized. Nationwide, Senate committees have cited multiple suicides and stress-induced deaths tied to non-payment—some contractors ending their lives after decades-old bills went ignored.
The human cost is devastating: orphaned children, collapsed businesses, stalled projects, and communities left without infrastructure. Experts demand urgent reform—transparent verification, prioritized payments, and accountability for governors who promise but fail to deliver.
As one grieving voice echoed after Njeri’s death: Counties must stop this cruelty. Without change, more hardworking Kenyans will pay the ultimate price—while governors sleep soundly on piles of unfulfilled promises.
