A Nakuru CEC, two gospel artists and a bad cheque

Two Nakuru based gospel artists Sammy G and Kaleson, have come forward to express their disappointment with the County Youth and Culture Executive Josephine Achieng’, for issuing them with a bad cheque, meant to support the artist in producing some songs.

In an interview with Mtaa Wangu, Joseph Ongere alias Kaleson, notes that the county executive joined the duo in the launch of Presenter Kai's music studio situated in Free Area, on June 1,2024.

At the launch, Kaleson claims the CEC offered to give them support to produce three songs, noting that the support is being extended to them in accordance to Governor Kihika’s quest to support and grow talent in the county.

“Two weeks after the launch of the studio, the CEC called us to collect a cheque from her office. We missed her at her office and met her at Maasai Market during the cultural day, where we performed upon her request. Afterwards, she cut us a check worth Sh 150,000, to help in producing a collabo between myself and Sammy G and a single song each,” he says.

Kaleson says, it’s this matter that has brought uproar among the Nakuru creative community.

He starts off by sharing the disappointment that met the account holder Presenter Kai, upon presenting the cheque at the bank, where the bank said they could not honour the cheque.

“There was a mismatch on the money captured in the cheque. In figures, the amount read sh 150,000. However, in words, it reads one hundred and fifty shillings. More to it, the account to which the money was to be paid from had no money in the account,” Kaleson explains.

Responding to the allegation, Ms. Achieng’ notes that the artists are impatient and out to tarnish her name through social media platforms.

Without quoting any amount, she stated that the artists had received a share of the agreed amount in cash and requested them to wait for the remaining amount to be cleared at a later date.

“We had delays with the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMIS) making it difficult for payments to be done on time. Consequently, I requested the artists to be patient,” she says as she explains why the artists had not received the money till date.

She went on to say that the move by the artists to share the matter online was a malicious move, further mentioning that she had planned to meet them on September 17 ,2024 to resolve the matter, before they grew impatient and proceeded to share the matter on social media.

"I was out on official duty when they came to the office and missed me. I had requested them to allow me some more time to finish my work and meet but they took the issue to social media," she says.

The Dawa hit maker, notes that they decided to bring the matter up on social media after bloggers whom they believe to be affiliated to the CEC claimed on social media that her office had given them sh 100,000 in cash and a cheque worth Sh 50,000, which they say is a lie.

“It is disappointing that, rather than meeting her promise, the CEC resorted to making us out as liars to the public. We did not receive any money from her other than the bad cheque,” he states.

For Kaleson and Sammy G, they say they want clarity on whether the CEC will honour the payment or not.