Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Tuesday suspended members of the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company board following a one-week workers' strike that has caused water shortage in the City.
Speaking with the workers at their Kampala offices, Sonko stated that he had decided to stop the board from transacting any business after meeting union members and listening to their grievances.
“I will do an official communication to the board stopping them from transacting any business until all the grievances are heard and auditing is done,” Sonko stated.
He further noted that the workers and Union officials had agreed to call off the strike and go back to work.
Nairobi County Workers Union Branch Secretary Matilda Kimetto, while addressing the same meeting, noted that the workers had been protesting over a plan to privatise the firm.
“We want an overhaul of the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company as its intention is to sell the firm and also sack the workers,” she stated.
The City County workers union pledged to work with the new government to improve water supply in the city.
The workers had downed their tools after the board refused to renew contracts of former top employees that include; the Managing Director Philip Gichuki, Commercial Director Stephen Mbugua, Finance Director Johnson Randu and Ms Rosemary Kijana, the Director Human Resource over non-performance.
The move to suspend the Board comes just two days after Sonko's inauguration.
During his swearing in, the Governor noted that water was a key concern and promised to ensure Nairobi residents get an adequate supply of water.
He also noted that he would work to ensure that the "city's lost glory is restored".
