This archive report was first published on 12 August 2019.
Kenya's county employees are set to down their tools in at least 15 counties starting from Tuesday, August 13, 2019, due to delayed payment of their July salaries.
The strike notice was issued by the Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGWU), the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), and the Kenya National Union of Nurses, following a letter by the Council of Governors informing the unions that workers' July salaries could delay.
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, 2019.
However, the remaining 15 counties, including Kitui, Machakos, Embu, Meru, Bungoma, Samburu, Nakuru, Elgeyo Marakwet, Tharaka Nithi, Isiolo, Marsabit, West Pokot, Kisumu, Baringo, and Samburu, have neither paid the salaries nor committed to do so before the end of the strike notice.
"These counties have not paid and have not shown any indication of an intention to pay. They are rogue counties and from Tuesday, there is going to be total paralysis of services rendered by our members there," said Mr. Duba on Sunday, August 11, 2019.
