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Crisis at council over deductions

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Published on Monday, 04 October 2010 04:17

A showdown is looming between workers and chief officers at the Kisii Municipal Council over poor working conditions and non-remittance of statutory deductions. The row that threatens to paralyse business at the civic body was fuelled by failure by chief officers to address their grievances even after their union, Kenya Local Government Workers Union (KLGWU), petitioned the Town Clerk Maina Chira over the same.

In a letter signed by the union’s Nyanza Secretary Charles Mboya, the over 350 workers complained that they were exposed to serious health hazards as they were not provided with protective. They alleged that their pension fund was owed Sh200 million, which was deducted from their salaries but not remitted.

They accused the officers of flouting the Workman’s Compensation Act by failure to compensate staff injured in the course of duty. Mr Mboya also alleged harassment and victimization of workers citing the suspension of three members including branch secretary Thomas Gwaro.

The workers are set to go on strike from tomorrow after the expiry of a 14-day notice to the council. Gwaro told The Standard that workers’ morale was down and service delivery to the public was suffering as a result. However, Chira said he had already responded to their concerns.

“There is no reason for them to storm my office since I have already responded to their letter,” Chira told The Standard. A section of chief officers are under probe in connection with alleged misuse of Sh25 million the Kazi Kwa Vijana projects.