Thousands of workers in five counties in Mt Kenya are unable to pay rent, school fees and feed their families since they have not been paid their July salaries, half a month later.
By Wednesday evening, county employers in Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Embu, Meru and Murang’a said they had not yet received their salaries, even as county officials blamed Treasury for the embarrassment. Union officials are now contemplating industrial action.
Nyeri County Government Workers Union Secretary Kimaru Maina said they were considering legal action against the county government.
“We have never experienced this kind of delay and demand an explanation from government officials,” Mr Maina said, adding that the county government has until the end of the week to sort out the mess or they would go to court.
“As workers we faithfully fulfilled our obligations to the county for the month of July and it is unacceptable for them to delay our salaries,” he added.
Public Administration and Communications Chief Officer Alice Wachira confirmed that all county workers had not been paid.
“I cannot comment on when money will be paid because this is a matter being dealt with by Treasury, but as a department we are aware that all county government workers are still waiting for their salaries and allowances,” Ms Wachira said.
Though their counterparts in Embu have also not been paid their July salaries, finance officials said the money would be paid starting today.
A source said majority of MCAs, county executive members and other staff have not been paid.
Contacted, Finance Chief Officer Damiano Muthee said the delay in July is normal since the month acts as the close of the previous financial year and the start of another.
“We have started processing the July salaries and the staff should get money from tomorrow (Thursday) depending on their banks. The delay arose because at the close of each financial year, we had to prepare to do verifications, prepare reports as per the budget, contact the Central Bank of Kenya and await approval by the Controller of Budget. This is a lengthy process,” he said.
He said they had communicated to the staff about the delay and they don’t expect a strike. Muthee said they were yet to receive the monthly budgetary allocation for this month from Treasury.
In Mutang’a, the employees from both County Assembly and the Executive said the delay was causing them untold suffering. Their union representatives said they are planning to meet county Finance and Planning Secretary George Kamau to shed light on the unusual delay.
Budget itemisation
“It is the first time the employees have been faced by such a delay, but we are made to understand that the Controller of Budget asked for itemisation of the budget,” said a union official who declined to be named.
The county secretary for finance could not be reached for comment as he was said to be attending a workshop.
Although the Meru County Head of Communications Elijah Kimathi said workers in the area had all received their salaries on Monday, some of the workers claimed they were yet to receive their payments.