This archive report was first published on 12 August 2019.
Kenya's county government workers are set to down their tools in at least 15 counties starting Tuesday, August 13, 2019, due to unpaid July salaries.
The strike notice was issued by the Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGWU) last week after the Council of Governors informed the unions that workers' July salaries could be delayed.
According to KCGWU Secretary-General Roba Duba, only 28 counties have obeyed the strike notice and paid their workers, while four more counties have made commitments to pay their employees by Monday, August 12.
However, the remaining 15 counties have neither paid the salaries nor committed to do so before the end of the strike notice.
These counties include Kitui, Machakos, Embu, Meru, Bungoma, Samburu, Nakuru, Elgeyo Marakwet, Tharaka Nithi, Isiolo, Marsabit, West Pokot, Kisumu, Baringo, and Samburu.
Mr. Duba warned that these counties are 'rogue counties' and that there will be 'total paralysis of services rendered by our members there' starting Tuesday.
The strike is a result of a stalemate in Parliament over the Division of Revenue Bill, 2019, which spells out the sharing of revenue between the national and county governments for the 2019/20 financial year.
