@robertomollo3
Homa Bay cleaners have protested against salary delays by the county government.
The over 130 cleaners are demanding their nine months' arrears.
The workers employed by the Environment department said it was their right to get paid for work done.
Led by Elvis Oduor and Samuel Omollo, the workers said life had become unbearable for them.
Most of them are planning to use the money for paying school fees and settling debts.
“We are demanding what we have worked for. The county should pay us without further delay,” Oduor said.
Speaking to journalists in Homa Bay town on Monday, the workers threatened to down tools should the county government fail to comply with their demands.
They are tasked with cleaning various parts of Homa Bay town including markets and trenches.
Oduor said the delay means they will not take care of the environment through conservation.
“Failure to pay us promptly means our services are not valued and the employer does not care about the environment,” Oduor said.
Omollo said the delay had deterred them from taking their children to school.
Seth Omondi said their work should be appreciated by timely payment of their dues.
“Garbage collection leaves us stinking, we can hardly afford soap for washing our clothes. We want the top leadership of the county to intervene in this matter,” Omondi said.
Homa Bay Water and Environment executive Dickson Nyawinda said they were still waiting for a reply on the payment from the county treasury.
“We have not paid them for about six months but we had sent requisition to the county treasury for their payment,” Nyawinda said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
