- Employees who were at their retirement age bracket were to get their retirement package from the respective county governments.
- A member of the group said some of them were drivers, security officers, cashiers and clerks, among other works.
Image: ROBERT OMOLLO
At least 450 retired civil servants want Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti to fast-track their retirement package of Sh66.4 million before leaving office.
The former employees who worked under the defunct county and municipal councils within Homa Bay have threatened to sue Awiti and his government for failure to address their demand.
Under the umbrella of Homa Bay County Retirees Group, the elders expressed the frustrations they have undergone since the inception of devolution.
Their secretary, Naphtali Okumu, said they have unsuccessfully been trekking to Awiti’s offices to get their accrued funds in Homa Bay town for the past nine years.
“Life has remained unbearable and miserable for us. Some have died along the way. We want Governor Awiti to personally intervene before he retires,” Okumu said.
Okumu is among the many retired employees of defunct local authorities who are languishing in abject poverty after devolution took over.
Assets and liabilities, including some employees, were inherited by the devolve units.
Employees who were at their retirement age bracket were to get their retirement package from the respective county governments.
Speaking to journalists in Homa Bay town on Thursday, Okumu said he leads a team that has written several letters to the county with demands to get their pay over the services rendered without success.
The funds are part of the salary and retirement fee that the elders worked for during the era of the defunct local authorities ahead of the 2013 election.
“Because no one wants to listen for us, we are going to seek legal redress on this matter. We have run out of patience and can not withhold our disappointment anymore,” Okumu said.
Dozens of personal and group letters they have written and addressed to the governor and other senior county officials have also not been replied.
Okumu said the senior citizens are now worried they will not get the money because time is running out as Governor Awiti is retiring in August 9.
Some of the local authorities who were folded into Homa Bay County are Kendu Bay Town Council, Oyugis Town Council, Homa Bay Municipality, Homa Bay County Council, Suba County Council and Mbita Town Council.
Some workers were drawn from the authorities and seconded to Homa Bay government as others retired.
Due to unpaid funds, some workers formed the group to advocate their rights.
Duncan Atito, a member of the group, said some of them were drivers, security officers, cashiers and clerks, among other works.
“Transitional Authority had clear instruction to county government to pay all the salary arrears. Why is Homa Bay government rejecting us as if we didn’t offer services to the people?” Atito said.
Roselyn Akinyi said her husband is among the people who died as they were pushing to have their money paid.
“I have children who need food, school fees and clothing. I see money as the only way we can change our lives,” Akinyi said.
(edited by Amol Awuor)