Paralysis as Kitui county workers down tools over salary delays
Public service delivery in Kitui suffered total paralysis yesterday after the county government workers went on strike again to protest unpaid July and August salaries.
They had a fortnight ago called off a planned industrial action after Governor Charity Ngilu promised to pay their dues for the two months by September 6.
The aggrieved workers, who marched to the governor’s office, accused her administration of failure to honour its end of the return-to-work deal and vowed to stay put until their dues are paid in totality.
The employees, including nurses and clinical officers, have since vacated and locked their workstations in protest.
Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) Kitui branch secretary Benjamin Munyalo said they would only resume work after their pending salaries reflect in their bank accounts.
“We are tired of these cat-and -mouse games with the county government. We will not continue to work without salaries. Enough is enough,” he said.
Timely payment
Kenya County Government Workers Union Kitui branch chairman Stephen Kitheka said Ngilu was non-committal on timely payment of employees’ salaries.
“It beats sense why Kitui has refused to pay its employees yet other counties have somehow managed to pay their staff despite the ongoing cash crisis in the devolved units,” said the official.
The administration has since July been unable to pay workers’ salaries due to funds shortage occasioned by a standoff between the Senate and National Assembly.
