Normal operations could be disrupted in Nairobi from next Wednesday following a threat by county employees to boycott work.
Kenya County Government Workers Union secretary Nairobi branch Festus Ngari said all county employees will engage in a pay-parade due to failure by the Ann Kananu administration to address their grievances.
In a letter addressed to the Nairobi county secretary on September 29, the union said the decision was arrived at after a joint Branch Executive Committee meeting on September 28.
“Due to noncompliance and wilful failure on your part to address these grievances, the union hereby invokes Section 18 of the Employment Act, 2007, to parade members at City Hall beginning Wednesday, October 13 at 8am," the letter reads.
The union has decried lack of medical cover for over 11,000 staff since July, leaving them exposed.
“The members have been exposed from July because of the inefficiency of the executive to procure a medical insurance provider in time for a seamless transition,” the letter reads.
Ngari told the Star on Wednesday that City Hall had already signed a contract with the National Hospital Insurance Fund, but premiums had yet to be paid.
“The county government convinced us that a government-to-government contract was the best, but now we are without cover. We were short-changed,” he said.
The union secretary also said at least 400 workers are due for promotion across all departments, but nothing has happened.
“We also have staff in the same cadre with different pay. You find one earns Sh30,000 with an allowance of Sh100,000 while another earns Sh80,000 but gets a Sh10,000 allowance. This should be harmonised and addressed for fairness, he added.
Other issues raised by the union include perennial delays of staff salaries, non-remittance of statutory deductions and non-payment of overtime and allowances.
The workers also decried non-payment of uniform allowances and dues for retiring employees.
City Hall has also been faulted for failing to provide PPE and uniforms for deserving staff.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
