This archive report was first published on 27 July 2019.
Kenya's county government workers are bracing for a tough time ahead as the Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGWU) has issued a strike notice to governors over delayed salaries.
The union's general secretary, Roba Duba, warned governors to prepare for the wrath of workers if their July salaries are not released on time.
Mr. Duba accused governors of taking advantage of the stalemate over the Division of Revenue Bill to undermine workers' rights, saying that salaries and statutory deductions are recurrent expenditures that should not be delayed.
He also accused governors of turning county governments into dens of corruption, pilferage, and overspending through fictitious and exaggerated budgets.
Mr. Duba pointed out that workers' conditions have deteriorated since the introduction of county governments, with salaries not enhanced and most governors refusing to recognize inherited workers' benefits.
"Every worker has the right to fair remuneration and reasonable working conditions. We warn all county governments to be prepared to face the wrath of workers should they fail to pay the July and other subsequent salaries as and when they fall due," Mr. Duba said during a press conference in Nairobi on Friday.
The union has vowed to picket, go on go-slows, and hold demonstrations if the salaries are delayed, and is in talks to have all seven unions with employees at county governments to withhold their services at the same time.
On July 23, Council of Governors chair Governor Wycliffe Oparanya alerted unions and county government workers to prepare for tough times ahead concerning disbursement of salaries and other related payments due to the delay in the passage of the Division of Revenue Bill for 2019/2020 financial year.
