By Samson Wire
Nairobi, Kenya: Nairobi County workers have downed their tools demanding their delayed remuneration dating back to July and August 2020. The workers have paralyzed essential services leaving Nairobi residents in misery.
While addressing thousands of workers from the County, Halkano Waqo, Finance, and economic chief officer recently assured members of staff that the management had goodwill to pay apart from the challenges they had encountered through the distribution of revenue from the senate.
He further said, he had an executive order from H. E Governor Sonko to pay all members of staff by the 25th of every month. He thus promised that all employees will be paid their salaries tomorrow.
“Governor Sonko means well, he has directed I look for money to pay you”. Said Halkano.
The workers who have since been split between Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) and the Nairobi County workforce had been without salaries for two months. Most of the workers are unable to come to work since they don’t have money.
Addressing the workers before the arrival of Chief officer finance, the Union chairman warned that salaries must be paid failure to which nothing will happen at the county. Mr. Bernard Nyangla red riot act.. everyone must be here..we shall start going with the register. He stressed.
He accused NMS of dividing their solidarity by arbitrarily splitting their payroll. Why would you be working in the same office where one person has received a salary while the other has nothing. This is discrimination. We shall not accept it. Come out until we triumph.
On his part treasurer of the union, Rosemary Kimani is known as mama pesa was categorical about their stand as a union. She advised all members to work together. “Together we succeed divided we fall”. She emphasized.
“Some of us here have been branded as not hardworking, when you retire you should be able to get your pension, don’t move from one union to the other. If you belong to Laptrust or lapfund stick to it. don’t switch unions every time. Otherwise, you will lose.” Advised Kimani.
On his part secretary-general, Boniface Waweru called on the workers to be steadfast by pushing for their rights.
“I want to thank everyone here for taking the time to show solidarity. I know you walk to come here but I can assure you that we shall all win. You will never walk hungry this strike will go on as long we are all paid.” Said Waweru.
Our biggest threats to this cause as you know are from other quarters but through our unity, we shall overcome. The workers are demanding more than two months’ salaries and allowances in millions.
Waweru allayed fears from some quarters that workers will loose from the agreed terms calling it a win-win situation. Sometimes you loose here and gain there..it’s for the benefit of all workers we are going to gain ignore critics.
Nairobi branch secretary-general Benson Orianga wants a process if implemented will not see workers lose. “As union, we won’t allow anything that will make us lose even a shilling..we don’t need are negotiated process..let the treasury honor our bargain as it was initially.”
The former head of treasury and now branch assistant treasurer Stephen Mutua was praised for paying staff on time during his tenure as treasurer. He has since been removed.
Governor Mike Sonko has ordered his treasury officials to act to save the situation ,the treasurer is now looking for over 500 million from its other coffers to pay striking workers plus their statutory deductions for July and August months.
