A group of consultants, suppliers, and service providers contracted by Elgon Group for the Migori Cultural Extravaganza and Piny Luo Festival 2025 have raised concern over delayed payments for work they say was fully completed during the event held in Migori County.
The affected parties include professionals who handled media coordination, logistics, site preparation, sports management, protocol, and communications support.
They say they delivered their services in good faith and ensured the success of the festival but have not been paid months after the event concluded on 17 December 2025.
According to the group, they have repeatedly tried to engage Elgon Group over the last six months to resolve the matter, but no payments have been released.
They also claim they were informed that the company had already received substantial funds related to the festival contract, raising further concern about the delay in settling suppliers.
One of the consultants speaking on behalf of the group said they fulfilled all their contractual obligations and are now facing financial strain due to unpaid invoices.
The suppliers have now formally written to the County Government of Migori asking for clarification on the payment status between the county and Elgon Group.
In their communication to Governor Dr Ochillo Ayacko, they stated that they were informed Elgon Group is still awaiting settlement of about 70 percent of the contract balance from the county government.
They are requesting the county to verify payments already made and help ensure that all outstanding dues are cleared so that downstream suppliers can be paid.
On 22 January 2026, the Controller of Budget Dr Margaret Nyakang’o approved a Treasury request for a credit grant of Ksh 105 million to support the Piny Luo Cultural Festival. The approval was meant to facilitate the event and would later be regularised in supplementary budget estimates for the 2025 to 2026 financial year.
The Treasury was represented in the communication by Principal Secretary Dr Chris Kiptoo.
Sources familiar with the payment process have raised concerns about possible administrative delays within the county finance department, pointing to Dr John Achuora.
They allege that payment files for suppliers may not have been processed efficiently, although these claims have not been independently verified.
Some suppliers also allege that there may be influence networks involving individuals connected to procurement and contracting processes, including references to county liaison roles and private sector links.
They argue that such issues, if present, undermine fair access to public contracts and delay legitimate payments to service providers.
The suppliers insist that continued delays are causing serious financial pressure on small businesses and individuals who depend on timely payments to sustain operations.
They are now calling for transparency on all transactions related to the festival and accountability for any bottlenecks in the payment process.
They have further stated that if the matter is not resolved within fourteen days, they will proceed with legal action against Elgon Group to recover the outstanding amounts, including claims for breach of contract and related damages.
The Piny Luo Festival 2025 was among Migori County’s key cultural events aimed at promoting Luo heritage, tourism, and local economic activity.
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