County, Sakaja face labour abuse lawsuit

Nairobi County Government Johnson Sakaja before the Senate Commiitee on Roads at Bunge Towers, Nairobi on March 18, 2025. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Nairobi County and Governor Johnson Sakaja have been sued over alleged failure to formalise the employment of youths working under the 'green army project'.

Dedan Rachuonyo and Felix Odiwour, in their case filed before High Court Judge Chacha Mwita, claimed that those involved in the program to clean the city are working under harsh conditions and violating their rights.

The duo's lawyer, Charles Omanga, told the court that those affected were working without the protection of the law and had no guarantee that the rights conferred on employees were guaranteed.

Rachuonyo and Odiwour sued the county and the governor and roped in the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu), Kenya County Government Workers Union, and the Union of Kenya Civil Servants as interested parties.

"Green Army Project employs individuals, including many vulnerable workers, primarily young Kenyans with limited alternative employment opportunities. These workers engage in hazardous tasks such as waste management, clearing overgrown grass, dense bushes, and other unwanted vegetation, street sanitation, sewage cleaning, and drainage maintenance. While the work is crucial for public health and sanitation, the conditions under which workers are employed are inhumane and unlawful," argued Omanga.

According to the lawyer, the work of 'Green Army' members works throughout the week, many workers are subjected to long working hours, often late into the night (until 1:00 am), without compensation for night work, which is a clear violation of their rights to fair remuneration under the Employment Act, 2007.

He further alleged that wages paid them are often below Sh17,000 after statutory deductions. The court heard that the average salary for hazardous work, such as waste management in Nairobi, typically ranges between Sh20,000 and Sh50,000.

The case will be mentioned on June 25, 2025.