This archive report was first published on 8 October 2019.
As Nairobi County struggles to finalize its budget, hundreds of casual labourers hired under Governor Sonko's 'Operation Ng'arisha Jiji' initiative have gone without pay for three months.
The 1,500 workers from all 85 Nairobi wards were last paid in June, and their delayed salaries have sparked a crisis at City Hall.
According to Nairobi County Executive Member for Environment Veska Kangogo, the delay was occasioned by the late approval of the budget by Nairobi MCAs.
However, Ms Kangogo expressed optimism that the workers could be paid by the end of the week, possibly on Friday.
"We are looking at a possibility of paying them this week, probably on Friday," Ms Kangogo said in a telephone interview with the Business Daily.
But the workers are not holding back, with some threatening to go on strike and assemble at Uhuru Park on Monday after getting the relevant approvals at Kamukunji Police Station.
"The demonstrations will start on Monday. We will assemble at Uhuru Park after getting the relevant approvals at Kamukunji Police Station," said a worker who wished to remain anonymous.
