•Among the issues cited were persistent salary delays, failure to complete promotions of all eligible staff, and unwillingness to finalise a collective bargaining agreement.
•Other issues are perennial electricity disconnections and intermittent NHIF medical cover due to failure to pay premiums and remit monthly deductions.
Image: WILFRED NYANGARESI
Normal county services will be interrupted from Monday as city hall staff begin their strike over unresolved grievances.
The Kenya County Government Workers Union had earlier issued a seven-day strike notice to give city hall time to solve their issue.
Nairobi staff branch secretary Festus Ngari said despite a meeting held on Friday with the county government officials, no agreement was arrived at and the go-slow will continue as planned.
“Don't expect any services from the county. At 8 am, the services will be at a standstill,” Ngari said.
Among the issues cited were persistent salary delays, failure to complete promotions of all eligible staff, and unwillingness to finalise a collective bargaining agreement.
Other issues are perennial electricity disconnections and intermittent NHIF medical cover due to failure to pay premiums and remit monthly deductions.
“In effect, therefore, we are left with no option but to seek the enforcement of our demands by invoking Section 76c of the Labour Relations Act, 2007 which we hereby do and notify you that our intended industrial action by way of a strike shall go on,” Ngari said in a letter dated June 29.
However, in a letter dated July 28, the acting county secretary Jairus Musumba said the government was working to address their complaints.
The letter did not provide a timeline for addressing the workers’ grievances, only requesting patience from the union.
“This is to inform you that the county government is addressing all the issues raised and requests your patience,” Musumba said.
“As previously agreed, Governor Kananu confirms her commitment to the welfare of our workers. Once again, kindly reconsider the union’s stand regarding the strike.”
The union said the county government was treating their grievances lightly.
In February, the workers had threatened to take industrial action over the failure of the county to remit their statutory deductions.
Kananu's administration had been put in a spot over an alleged diversion of more than Sh490.5 million in staff funds to unauthorised expenditures.
The staff accused City Hall of failing to remit their statutory deductions and union dues despite making a requisition to the Controller of Budget.
The diverted funds include statutory deductions and union dues amounting to Sh490.47 million between October and December 2021 and Sh70 million staff claims for January.
However, the Ministry of Labour called upon the union to suspend their 21-day strike notice.
As a result, the Ministry assigned a special officer, Boaz Musandu, to assist the workers’ union in resolving the issue.
With the accusations by the union, the Controller of Budget launched investigations into City Hall’s alleged diversion of Sh490.5 million meant for county staff salary deductions.
The workers union had raised the issue with COB Margaret Nyakang’o calling for an investigation and audit of the county government’s expenditure during the period under focus.
The saga surrounding the staff salary deductions came to light in January when the union raised an alarm demanding the immediate remittance of all deductions without any further delay.
The unremitted deductions include; Sacco loans, pension, NHIF, NSSF, PAYE, salaries, welfare, and union dues.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris