Crucial Services to Be Disrupted As County Workers Set To Strike

County workers in at least 20 counties are set to lay down their tools today, August 13, to protest delayed payment of July salaries.

Workers Union leaders had earlier warned the county governments of an impending strike if their members would not have been paid by August 12.

The Secretary General of Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGWU), Roba Duba said the counties have not given their workers any reasons for the delayed payments, compelling them to go on strike as earlier promised.

When the strike kicks off it is bound to bring crucial services such as health to a standstill, as members of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers, Kenya National Union of Nurses, Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Technologists and the Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists are expected to abscond duty.

County governors had earlier complained about the lack of enough funds allocated to their counties to allow them to pay workers on time, among other goals.

The Senate and the Council of Governors (CoG), had passed a Division of Revenue Bill that counties be allocated 335 billion shillings, while the National Assembly and the National Treasury proposed that governors be given 316 billion shillings.

The two bodies’ disagreement on revenue allocation has been the reason why workers in some counties failed to get paid.

Given that both houses were set to begin their long recess by august 8, the county workers’ situation is most likely going to remain the same.

Workers in 23 counties are reported to have already been paid.

Counties that will likely be most affected by lack of crucial services include Murang’a, Isiolo, Laikipia, Meru, Kisumu, Bungoma, Tharaka Nithi, Kitui and Marsabit.

Strike notice was also issued to Homa Bay, Taita Taveta, West Pokot, Nakuru, Machakos, Kericho, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Samburu and Embu county governments.

Kilifi, Kirinyaga and Busia county workers were promised to be paid by august 13 close of business while Uasin Gishu county workers are still waiting for communication from the administration concerning a definite timeline for payment.

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