Guards withold firm’s dogs over pay

By Wairimu Kamande

More than 100 employees of Patriotic Guards are withholding the security company’s dogs to protest against non-payment of salaries.

The guards, who had earlier been attached to the Delmonte Company in Thika, alleged their employer had not paid them for two months.

Yesterday morning, the uniformed guards marched to the Thika District Labour offices, seeking the Government’s intervention in the matter.

"Now that our contract with the company has expired, we have nowhere to go as we do not even have money to travel home," said one of them.

Consequently, they vowed they would not release the four dogs in their possession until the company pays them the salary arrears.

The company director, Mr Titus Kigen, confirmed they had lost the contract with Delmonte but refuted claims they had not paid the guards for two months.

He said the guards had not consulted him, adding they ought to travel to the company’s head office in Nairobi.

"Tell them we have not refused to pay them. They should come to Nairobi and we are going to pay them their dues," he said.