County leadership: Talks save devolved units from paralysis
Workers of most counties yesterday did not make good their threat to go on strike to protest delayed salaries, after county leadership pleaded for patience.
Last week, employees of the 47 counties, through trade unions, threatened to down tools if they did not get their July salaries by yesterday. Governors have blamed the delay on failure by the National government to release funds.
But a spot check by People Daily revealed that only workers in Kisumu, Taita Taveta, Embu and Murang’a counties boycotted work while in others, the leadership talked staff out of the strike.
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In Kisumu, the striking workers assembled at the Prosperity Building, which houses several county offices.
Kenya County Government Workers Union Kisumu branch secretary Rashid Ondu said the workers would not resume duty until they were paid.
Paralysed
“We will withdraw our services as long as the county government delays in paying us,” said Ondu.
In Taita Taveta, health services were paralysed when health workers downed tools and spent the day barricading Governor Granton Samboja’s office.
Operations were also grounded in Embu county with more than 3,000 workers staging demonstrations outside Governor Martin Wambora’s office in Embu town.
In Murang’a, most county government offices were deserted.
In Laikipia, Nyeri ad Kirinyaga counties, workers ended the boycott after officials assured them that the process of paying their salaries had started.
The situation was the same in Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties, where staff resumed work after the governments assured their workers that their salaries would be cleared by next week.
In Kiambu, workers reported to work as usual, with the some of them confirming that they got their pay last week.
