The Anchor

By Lisa Munini


Machakos County Government Faces Fresh Crisis as Insurer Cancels Vehicle Covers

The Machakos County Government has plunged deeper into turmoil after Occidental Insurance Company cancelled insurance cover for its entire fleet of vehicles, exposing hundreds of county employees to risk.

In a letter dated April 15, 2025, and signed by Managing Director Benjamin Mwangangi and Assistant Underwriting Manager Roselyne Obondi, the insurer said the decision followed a cancellation notice issued on March 21 and the county’s failure to remit outstanding premiums.

“We are left with no further option than to invoke the cancellation clause of the policy,” the two officials declared in the letter, which, notably, was not addressed to a specific individual but to the “County Government of Machakos.”

The county fleet comprises of about 500 cars, pickups, double cabin trucks, tipper trucks, fire engines, ambulances, and high-end 4×4 vehicles that include the governor’s official cars. It means that hundreds of users, including the governor, are at risk by using uninsured vehicles.

The company warned that it would not be liable for any claims arising after the cancellation and confirmed plans to pursue recovery of the unpaid premiums. Copies of the letter were sent to the Inspector General of Police, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, and Max and Sirch Insurance Brokerage—a firm based in Machakos.

Max and Sirch is owned by Mr. Malcom Kateta, Chairperson of the Machakos Municipal Board, an entity under the county government.

He told The Anchor that his firm was appointed by Occidental Insurance Company to offer Agency services in its transactions with the county administration

Mr. Kateta said “My role is to assist occidental in its transactions. The county pays monies to the company, and therefore, there is no conflict of interest on my part, ”  Mr. Kateta Chairs the Machakos Municipal Board.

Efforts to get a comment from the county secretary Dr Muya Ndambuki ended fruitless after he failed to respond to sms prompts.

This latest development adds to the mounting woes facing Governor Wavinya’s administration, which has been lurching from one crisis to another.

In recent months, the county has witnessed the resignation of ministers and chief officers, bitter infighting within the county assembly as she tries to have the speaker impeached, and a dramatic raid by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over alleged corruption.