Nairobi City County workers have downed their tools in protest against City Hall and the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) over the remittance of Ksh490.5 million in statutory deductions.
On Tuesday, February 22, the workers blocked entrances to City Hall and demanded timely payment of salaried and improvement of their working conditions.
The VIP entrance that is used by Governor Anne Kananu and other high profile figures were locked with chains and padlocks as the workers sought redress.
"We want our pension contributions, bank loans, Sacco loans, union dues as well as NHIF contributions remitted," a worker told a correspondent outside City Hall.
Notably, the other entrances which include the executive wing and City Hall Annexe were also not left behind, as the gates were sealed by the irate workers.
The workers under the Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGWU) blamed the two institutions led by Governor Ann Kananu and Rtd. Gen Mohammed Badi for ignoring their plight.
KCGWU stated that they will protest until their complaints are addressed. Further, the union demanded that City Hall fixes lifts and toilets which are in a dire state and a disadvantage for people living with disabilities.
"Our members face occupational risks all the time due to poor working conditions, environment and demotivation [thus] compromising the productivity," Kenya County Government Workers Union Nairobi branch secretary general, Festus Ngari stated.
The protest comes barely three weeks after the (KCGWU protested failure by NMS and City Hall to remit the statutory deductions for October and December 2021.
"We hereby demand that you immediately remit all deductions without any further delay whatsoever. Be warned, failure to pay all the deductions within 21 days will leave us with no option but institute serious industrial action against you holding the concerned officers personally responsible as to attendant consequences thereof.
“Your unlawful action has opened members to untold suffering as most members who had loans are likely to be penalised for actions that do not lie squarely at their behest. Additionally, it is bound to worsen the already dire situation of pending bills crisis within the county,” a statement by KCGWU dated January 26 read.
“It is our humble request that your able office will invoke the power and provision of article 252(1) and conduct an investigation and audit all the work plans for October, November and December to ascertain that public money shall be used in a prudent and responsible way,” it added.
