Civil servants threaten to go on strike over temporary staff

By Maureen Odiwuor

Kenya: The Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) has given the Government seven days to absorb over 5,000 Economic Stimulus Programme failure to which they will down their tools.

The union is also demanding payment of hardship allowance as agreed.

UKCS Secretary General Tom Odege said they fear some of their members may lose their jobs following reports of a planned retrenchment.

“The union is closely monitoring the action of the Government following rumours that there are plans to retrench public servant to reduce the wage bill,” he said in Kisumu during a press conference.

He said the public service does not contribute to the high wage bill and hence they will resist any downsizing plans.

Odege said they will not allow the over 5000 members to lose their employment.

He urged the Government to employ the ESP staff on a permanent and pensionable basis before recruiting a further 10,000 fresh civil servants.

“We will not accept that those in the three-year contract programme renew their terms or be retrenched, but be employed permanently,” he said.

The civil servant is currently understaffed by 44.12 per cent as indicated by the Civil Service data. It shows that there are 172,465 vacant posts and 218,394 in-posts.

The union also said they want the Government to fulfill its promise by harmonising and paying their long overdue hardship allowances.