By Ali Abdi
Isiolo town turned chaotic after hundreds of the defunct Isiolo County Council workers protested demanding for eight months salary arrears. The more than 500 workers who included game rangers guarding three game parks in the area attributed their woes to the incoming county government.
Supporting old system
Waving placards in favour of the old system when the county council existed, the workers called on the National Government to immediately facilitate payment of their salary arrears.
“We want to tell this new county government that there exist families of the former Isiolo County Council workers who must eat and continue to live,” said a garbage collector in the town.
Contacted, the Deputy County Governor Mohammed Guleid said the new county government was not aware of the problem and pledged he would follow up the matter.
A survey in the town by The Standard showed that garbage had not been collected in the last five days while the animals in parks prone to bandits and poachers attacks were at risk.
Last month salary
The council workers are demanding for their last month salary on top of their other salary arrears from September, last year.
Isiolo County that relies heavily on tourism is faced with security problems due to the ongoing protest from the game rangers.
Isiolo, along with neigbouring Samburu, Narok, Taita Taveta, Laikipia, Meru and Kajiado counties are facing serious challenges from marauding poachers who are killing wildlife with impunity.
Three days ago, four poachers were killed by rangers from Kenya Wildlife Services at Karandare while on a mission to kill elephants and rhinos at Buffalo Springs, Shaba and the privately owned Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
Cases of human-animal conflict has risen in the country, with rhinos and elephants being mostly affected even in the parks.
