Workers keep off celebrations amid list of grievances

Nakuru Residents during Labour Day Celebrations at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on May 1, 2019. [Harun Wathari/Standard]

Labour Day celebrations in South Rift and Mount Kenya regions were marked by low turnout as majority of workers kept away.

No celebrations were held in Baringo, Narok, Bomet, Samburu, Meru, Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Murang’a counties.

In Kericho, the event started four hours late with a few workers from tea factories attending. National government officials also failed to show up for the celebrations at the Kericho Green Stadium.

Tea farm workers who attended the function demanded for a pay increase from the multinational companies

“For the last four years we have never signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement. We want it (signed) before May 10,” said Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) lawyer, Mesherk Khisa.

In Nakuru, the Kenya Union of Commercial, Food and Allied Workers Secretary General Francis Ochola accused employers of denying workers a chance to attend the fete.

Only about 100 people turned up at Afraha Stadium, which was the venue of the celebrations.

In Naivasha, KPAWU Naivasha branch secretary, Ferdinand Juma said flower farm workers face a bleak future as sector has been gripped by uncertainties.

Turnout was also low at 64 Stadium in Turbo, Uasin Gishu County, where Evans Maghoka, who chairs the county government workers union, said more than 350 workers have been sacked since 2013.

In Kisumu, Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o announced the allocation of Sh350 million to set up business incubation centres for the youth. The fight against corruption dominated speeches, with the governor saying that his government was committed to fighting the vice.

In Kisii, Kenya University Staff Union treasurer, Robert Nyakundi, accused the government of failure to honour past collective bargaining agreements with workers. Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Kisii branch secretary, Omari Otungu said the government should stop imposing unnecessary taxes and levies on workers.

County Commissioner Godfrey Kigochi who presided over the event called on workers’ unions to unite and fight corruption.

In Mombasa, workers chanted slogans against proposed privatisation of the second container terminal at the port of Mombasa.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Mombasa branch Secretary Dan Aloo accused the region’s leaders of failure to defend the region’s resources.

In Nyeri County, Kamukunji and Ruring’u stadia, which used to be the venues for the celebrations, remained closed with no activities being held to mark the day.

 

Residents said they did not have anything to celebrate as the event was not devolved to the counties and their grievances were not taken seriously.

“I do not have anything to celebrate, if anything, I have lost business because most of my clients stayed home and I have not made any money today,” said Paul Kibethi, a boda boda mechanic.

The same was reported in Meru County, where residents went about their business with no Labour Day celebrations held in any venue.

In Kirinyaga County, there was also no events held to mark the day with most residents choosing to go about their businesses as usual.

In Muranga and Embu counties, residents also stayed home.

[Report by Daniel Chege, Nikko tanui, Anthony Gitonga, Audrey Ng’eny, Lynn Kolongei, Kevine Omollo, Eric Abuga, Kelvin Karani and Lydia Nyawira]