Over 10,000 workers at the Nairobi City County government are suffering from welfare neglect and lack of appraisal, Festus Ngari, assistant Secretary General, Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGWU) Nairobi Branch has said.
Ngari clarified that the union has not called of the strike, however, they issued an industrial action notice which is still in force and will culminate to a full blown strike if their demands are not honoured with the agreed time.
“Let me clarify that we did not had a strike. What we had e did not have a strike, what we had an industrial action. We have not called off the industrial action. We have only given the executive some breathing space so that as they requested by March 25, 2022 all the demands would have been met. However, if by 25 close of business all those promises will not have been met, then we have to engage another gear to put them on their toes.” Ngari said during an exclusive interview with The Informer.
He further stated the county workers had not received their salaries for over four months noting the county government had misused funds appropriated to the workers.
“When money comes there is no financial discipline, money is divided and goes to unidentified areas or approved for expenditure,” Ngari said.
Speaking to The Informer, assistant noted that the county government workers are facing poor working environment marred by unreliable water supply even in lavatories, broken down elevators especially to those living with disability.
He blamed the executive led by Governor Ann Kananu for laxity and failing to offer sound administrative, lack of institutional financial discipline and policy guidance workers’ welfare.
“There is a concern that the working environment entails what is occupied in an occupational system, there should be reliable water available for better sanitation,” Ngari said.
This comes after the Union issued a notice to the county executive demanding to have the working environment improved, especially restoration of lifts in both city hall and city hall annex to working conditions.
The union also demanded an explanation from Nairobi County administration on why the employees have not been receiving their salaries yet these have been released by the National Treasury.
“It has been four months since Nairobi County started the said diversion of funds and this has seriously exposed the claimants’ members to unnecessary financial constraints… such as denial of loans by lending institutions,” said the unions.
The union sought interim orders pending the No services: Effects of the strike organised by the union hearing and determination of the suit.
The workers accused the county government of failing to pay them their salaries, allowances and statutory deductions even after receiving Sh765 million from the Controller of Budget for payment of salaries, allowances, statutory deductions and remittances… as per individual contractual agreement