Postal Corporation of Kenya employees have launched nationwide protests over seven months of unpaid salaries.
In Nairobi, the employees walked with placards, whistles, vuvuzelas, and green leaves, along major streets, with some singing in unison, "We want our money," to express their frustration with the government
The same was replicated in Thika, Kiambu county, where the employees protested outside the town's Posta offices and other streets with placards, with some written "We want our salary. Seven months have gone by unpaid. No Salary, no work."
According to the employees, the delayed salaries have left some unable to afford basic necessities such as transportation and rent, which has, in turn, forced them to turn to debt.
"We cannot keep on coming here by 8am for seven good months without getting paid. We have so many debts that we cannot even pay them. I have nothing in my hand; some of us have lost our houses and families due to financial problems," an employee said.
The Central Region branch Secretary, Communication Workers Union of Kenya (COWU), Solomon Shikanda, said that the workers will continue with the strike until the government pays them in full.
According to COWU, which had issued a strike notice a month ago, the government owes the workers Ksh1.5 billion.
“We have exhausted all avenues, including dialogue, but none of them seem to be working. Even after performing our work diligently, we are still not getting paid, and so we have said, 'enough is enough',” Shikanda stated.
“It is not easy for anyone to remain afloat without a salary under the current harsh economic times. We have taken up debts everywhere, and our debtors are running out of patience with us," he added.
Additionally, the union is urging the government to also ensure that debt owed to the corporation by other government agencies, such as Huduma Centres and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), is fully paid.
COWU claims that Huduma Center owes the corporation Ksh1.6 billion in rent arrears, which date back to 2013, and IEBC also owes it some Ksh400 million for transporting election material during the 2022 General Elections.
"If you sum up the two debts, that money is enough to clear our salary arrears and to pay our salaries for another year,” Shikanda said.
