The County Government Workers Union-Kenya (COGWU-K) has issued a nationwide ultimatum to all County Public Service Boards (CPSBs), demanding they immediately seek advisories from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and implement pending Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
The union warned that failure to comply will leave county workers with no option but to withdraw their labour, setting the stage for a nationwide strike.
In a statement dated July 22, the union claimed County Executive and County Assembly Public Service Boards across all 47 counties are delaying the implementation of long-overdue labour agreements by failing to engage the SRC.
"Immediately apply for and seek the necessary advisories from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to finalise and execute our Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), or face a complete, nationwide withdrawal of labour," the union said.
COGWU-K said county employees have endured years of wage discrimination, stalled career progression and unfair treatment, with workers formerly employed by the defunct local authorities bearing the greatest burden.
"For years, county employees have been subjected to systemic wage discrimination, severe career stagnation, and unjust treatment, effectively reducing them to second-class public servants," the statement read.
The union attributed the delays to what it termed the refusal by County Public Service Boards to seek mandatory SRC advisories needed to conclude the agreements.
"This crisis is no longer just an administrative delay; it is a direct result of willful negligence by County Public Service Boards that deliberately refuse to engage the SRC for required advisories, stalling the implementation of long-overdue labour agreements," it said.
COGWU-K warned that the prolonged delays have pushed many workers into financial hardship, with some reportedly struggling to meet basic needs due to stagnant wages and delayed salary adjustments.
"A worker cannot serve the public with pride when they cannot feed their family, pay rent, or access medical care despite working every single day," the union stated.
Among its key demands are immediate promotions for eligible county employees, adoption of a unified salary structure, protection of earned benefits, harmonisation of allowances and incorporation of Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) into future pay structures.
The union acknowledged that counties including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kajiado, Taita Taveta and Kisumu had initiated processes to seek SRC clearance and submit draft CBAs, but said many other county boards continued to delay.
It warned that any County Public Service Board that fails to seek SRC advisories and implement the agreements within the stipulated timeline will face industrial action.
"Equal pay for equal work is not a request; it is a fundamental labour right. Seek the SRC advisory now, execute the CBAs, or prepare for a full withdrawal of labour," the union said.
