Fresh pressure is mounting on Elgon Group Events Management and Consultancy Limited after new questions emerged regarding the handling of funds allocated for the Piny Luo Festival, with suppliers and service providers claiming they remain unpaid despite company documents indicating that all obligations had been settled.
At the center of the controversy is a KSh3.4 million payment received by Elgon Events from the County Government of Migori for services related to the cultural festival, one of the region’s flagship events celebrating Luo heritage and culture.
Documents reviewed by this publication show that Elgon Events formally acknowledged receiving the funds and subsequently informed county officials that consultants and service providers engaged for the event had been paid.
A statement of account accompanying the correspondence reportedly reflected an outstanding balance of zero, suggesting that all financial obligations arising from the festival had been cleared.
However, weeks after the event, multiple suppliers and workers continue to raise concerns over payments they claim have not been received.
The emerging complaints have created a growing contradiction that stakeholders say requires urgent clarification.
If all service providers were compensated as indicated in company records, critics argue, the company should have no difficulty providing documentation confirming the payments. If some claims remain unresolved, they say, a detailed explanation should be provided to account for the discrepancies.
The controversy has quickly evolved from a payment dispute into a broader accountability issue involving public funds.
Because taxpayer money was used to facilitate the festival, questions are now being directed not only at Elgon Events but also at the processes used to verify that contractors, suppliers, and workers received the payments due to them.
Among the questions now being raised are: Who was paid? How much was paid? Which suppliers were compensated? Are there service providers who remain unpaid despite the company’s declarations that obligations were settled?
For many stakeholders, these questions go to the heart of transparency and financial accountability.
The matter has also revived interest in previous complaints involving Elgon Events and some of its officials.
One of the most publicized disputes involved musician and entrepreneur Akothee, who previously accused the company and one of its officials, Mercy Wamoto, of failing to deliver event management services after receiving payment for an assignment.
In a detailed social media post, Akothee alleged that despite paying KSh80,000 for event management services, key responsibilities, including invitation management, guest coordination and event logistics, were either delayed or poorly executed.
She claimed she was ultimately forced to take over much of the work herself to prevent the event from failing.
Those allegations remain claims made by Akothee and have not been determined by any court.
Nevertheless, critics now point to the complaints as part of a broader pattern that they believe warrants closer scrutiny of the company’s operations.
The renewed attention comes as suppliers linked to the Piny Luo Festival continue seeking answers over their alleged unpaid dues.
For Elgon Events, observers say the path toward resolving the controversy is straightforward.
The company can publicly address the claims, engage affected suppliers, and provide verifiable payment records showing how the KSh3.4 million received for the festival was disbursed.
Until such clarification is provided, questions surrounding the Piny Luo Festival payment trail are likely to persist.
As pressure grows and more suppliers come forward, the controversy threatens to overshadow the success of the cultural event itself, leaving Elgon Events facing mounting calls for transparency over how public funds were managed and whether all those who delivered services for the festival were paid in full.
