Kenya Meat Commission workers face sack

By ALLY JAMAH

NAIROBI, KENYA: An unspecified number of staff at Kenya Meat Commission may soon be sent packing as part of the Government’s plan to restructure the debt-ridden meat processor.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei said last week that the State firm is ‘too bloated’ and that a new restructuring plan will see some of the workers who are not adding value to the company sent home. However, he didn’t reveal the number of workers to be axed.

The retrenchments could unleash a wave of uncertainty in the Athi-river based company as well as the general public service since the Jubilee administration has made public its intention to cut at least 100,000 jobs.

“Past employment policies at KMC have resulted in a bloated workforce that needs to be trimmed down. Otherwise, the company won’t be profitable,” he said.

He added: “We plan an audit of the workers in the facility and determine which ones will remain.”

Koskei said that in the coming financial year, the Government may allocate funds to overhaul the equipment in the factory. The company is struggling to lift itself out of financial crisis due to a Sh330 million debt, owed to livestock farmers and banks.