32 retired City hall workers yet to be paid Sh7.9 million

Thirty two retired city hall staff are now claiming Sh7.9 million in unpaid dues from the Nairobi County Government.

The former workers are seeking their pension that was to be paid by the Governor Mike Sonko- led administration in 2017 following a court ruling. This was revealed by lawyer Caleb Jaoko when he appeared before the county Public accounts committee last week.

Mr. Jaoko told the Wilfred-Odalo led PAC committee that he had in 2009 represented the retirees through their Nairobi City Council Retiree Welfare Association against the then Nairobi City Council in court case number 561, where a ruling was made that they be paid their dues. 

“The Judgment was delivered by Lady Justice Maureen Onyango on March 5, 2014, where a decree was issued of Sh 21 million against the Nairobi City Council. This money was payable to retirees, A genuine claim. There was no appeal filed against this case,” Jaoko said.

The lawyer was however concerned that the retirees had not been paid their dues even after him writing to the county Director for Legal Affairs Violet Onyangi, consequently arriving at the conclusion that the money may have been embezzled.

“There is a possibility that the money meant for my clients may have been spent elsewhere that is why they have never been paid,” he said.

The lawyer further brought to the fore that in 2017, the matter was taken over by Lawyer Tom Ojienda prompting him to file an application before the court for contempt against county officers, county secretary and head of treasury

 “I did a demand letter on October 5, 2017 to the Director of Legal Affairs seeking payment for the 32 retirees whose total claim was sh7, 974,000 million but no payment has been made,” he added.

Mr. Jaoko also told the committee that he had been facing frustration from the legal department and the retirees at one point resolved to camp outside city hall.

“It got a point where I was told the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) form which I had filled for the previous case was no longer applicable and I had to generate a new IFMIS number,” he said.

Adding, “After getting IFMIS number 836924, I wrote back to the county on April 30, 2018 demanding for the money, but I never got a response.”

On her part, Director of Legal Affairs Violet Onyangi admitted that the county was yet to pay the retirees their dues and was working towards the same. She however claimed that the amount payable was only Sh652, 061.

Minority Whip Peter Imwatok however requested the lawyer to provide documents on all the payments made to his account to ascertain that he was paid and did not remit to his clients.

The committee is expected to continue deliberations on the issue this week.

In the recent past, Auditor General Edward Ouko has faulted city hall’s legal department for exceeding their budget ceilings and paying money outside the IFMIS system.