Trainers involved in the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme in Kisii County have raised concerns over delayed payments, with the matter coming to light through a report shared with Nyakundi.
The trainers claim they have gone for nearly two months without receiving compensation despite successfully completing their assignments and submitting all required reports.
They allege that repeated efforts to seek clarification have not yielded clear answers on when they will be paid.
At the centre of the complaints is Crestwood Marketing & Communications Ltd, a Nairobi-based corporate communications, public relations and digital marketing agency.
The company was founded in 2014 and is led by Group Chairman David Osiany, HSC.
Over the years, Crestwood has built a strong profile through communications and marketing assignments for government institutions, multinational organisations, youth-focused initiatives and regional industry programmes.
The firm was also awarded contracts under the NYOTA Project to provide Business Development Services (BDS), making it one of the organisations tasked with delivering key components of the programme in different parts of the country.
Through this role, the company engaged trainers and facilitators who were expected to support beneficiaries through various training sessions.
However, trainers from Kisii County now say they are still waiting for payment long after completing their work.
According to the affected facilitators, Crestwood was responsible for processing payments related to the training exercise.
They maintain that they fulfilled their responsibilities, conducted the required sessions and submitted all necessary documentation within the stipulated timelines.
The trainers say the prolonged delay has caused frustration and uncertainty.
Many of them reportedly spent their own money on transport, accommodation and other operational costs while delivering the training programme.
They expected payment to be made shortly after the completion of the exercise but claim that weeks have passed without any clear communication on the matter.
In a message shared with Nyakundi, one of the trainers appealed for public attention to the issue, saying that several facilitators had dedicated their time, skills and resources to ensure the success of the programme.
The trainer noted that numerous follow-ups had been made but no official commitment or timeline for payment had been provided.
The complaints emerge amid growing concerns about payment delays affecting personnel involved in the implementation of the NYOTA programme in different parts of the country.
Similar grievances have recently been raised by trainers and ICT officers engaged through other service providers, prompting questions about the handling of compensation for individuals supporting the initiative.
The affected trainers are now calling on Crestwood Marketing & Communications to provide a public update on the status of the payments and explain the reasons behind the delay.
They are also urging the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) to intervene and ensure that trainers who delivered services under the programme are compensated for work already completed.
The facilitators say their main request is simple: clear communication and a firm timeline on when the outstanding payments will be settled.
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