Machakos County Fires Back at Oga Obinna Over Sammy Kioko Payment Saga

The Machakos County Government has officially hit back at comedian Oga Obinna, demanding hard evidence to support claims made on The Obinna Show Live that the county owes fellow comedian Sammy Kioko unpaid money for services rendered.

The move comes after a viral episode of the show, aired on November 10, 2025, titled “When Politics Crushes Dreams | Sammy Kioko’s Heartbreaking Story.”
In the emotional interview, Kioko claimed that he had successfully completed a county project but was never paid — a situation he blamed on political interference and bureaucracy.

The episode sparked massive online outrage, with fans rallying behind Kioko and calling out county officials for alleged corruption and neglect.

County Demands Proof

In a letter dated November 12, 2025, and shared by Obinna on his Facebook page, Machakos County Solicitor Juliet Nthambi dismissed the allegations as false and misleading, accusing Obinna of spreading unverified claims that damaged the county’s image.

The letter, addressed to Steve Thompson Magana (Obinna’s legal name), demanded that the comedian provide documented proof of Kioko’s alleged dealings with the county — including contracts, invoices, delivery notes, or payment vouchers.

“The said Sammy Kioko is not a registered supplier with the County Government of Machakos,” the letter read. “He does not appear as a director or contact person in any company supplying goods or services to the county.”

Nthambi further stated that no contract or procurement record exists linking Kioko to any county transaction and accused Obinna of hosting a “sensational and baseless” discussion.

Legal Warning to Obinna

The letter went on to warn that failure to produce evidence could lead to legal action.

“Your show and the discussion therein were made out of ignorance of facts and the law in respect to procurement and contracts,” it stated, reminding Obinna that only prequalified, registered companies can conduct business with the county.

The solicitor added that third parties — such as Kioko — have no legal authority to represent registered suppliers in contractual matters.

Obinna Reacts with Disbelief

True to form, Obinna responded to the letter with a mix of shock and humour.

Posting the document on his Facebook page, he wrote:

“Wueh 🤦🏿‍♂️🙆🏿‍♂️… Is this a legit document? Is this real ama naota jamani?”

He tagged Kioko and urged him to gather all relevant paperwork before turning the matter over to his lawyer. Obinna then criticized the county for “making a simple issue huge instead of directly resolving it.”

“A very simple issue being made huge by everyone just avoiding calling Kioko and finding a solution,” he added.

Obinna later encouraged others who’ve had similar experiences with county governments to speak up, saying, “Let’s expose these systems that frustrate young entrepreneurs.”

How It All Started

The saga began weeks earlier when Sammy Kioko was seen camping outside the Machakos Governor’s office, pleading for payment for what he described as a completed county project.

In a desperate Instagram post, he wrote:

“There’s need to be paid. Anyone from Machakos County kindly help. Things are not okay. I have suffered enough.”

The plea quickly went viral, drawing sympathy from fans and fellow celebrities, and sparking outrage online.

Sources close to Kioko claimed the dispute involved a county uniform supply tender, which he said he delivered through a legitimate business entity.

But as the pressure mounted, Machakos Head of Procurement Joseph Mathuki issued a statement dismissing the allegations.
He clarified that the tender was awarded to a registered supplier who did not list Kioko as a director and said payments were delayed due to incomplete deliveries.

“Mr. Kioko has no legal authority to represent the company in question,” Mathuki stated.

The Story That Shook the Internet

When the story broke, Obinna invited Kioko onto his YouTube show to share his experience. The episode — raw, emotional, and unfiltered — went viral within hours.

Kioko tearfully accused the county of betrayal and financial neglect, revealing that he had been forced to shut down his business and even sell his car to cover his sister’s medical bills.

Moved by his story, Obinna’s fans donated over KSh 221,000, while former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko publicly offered to help Kioko pursue his payment.