Kidero receives Sh1b advance from Treasury to avert workers’ strike
By LILLIAN MUTAVI Lmutavi@ke.nationmedia.comThe Nairobi County Government has received Sh1.021 billion advance from the National Treasury to pay April salaries to avert planned strike set for Wednesday.
The Kenya County Government Workers Union last week gave the county an ultimatum to pay up the arrears by Tuesday or paralyze services at the county.
Speaking to Nation, the county executive for finance Gregory Mwakanogo said that they had secured the advance following negotiations with the treasury.
He said that the workers would get their money on their accounts beginning Tuesday.
“The workers are being paid today and tomorrow we will have sorted all of them after we got an advance from treasury,”said Mr Mwakanongo.
MOVED TO COURT
On Monday, City Hall moved to court requesting the court to order Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to reverse Sh1.7 billion, which was transferred directly by central bank to KRA within 24 hours.
Nairobi County lawyer Prof. Tom Ojienda also requested for the committal to civil jail of the Directors of Central Bank and Kenya Revenue Authority who made the transactions despite an existing court order barring such a move.
“In disobedience of the court order made for City Hall, KRA transferred salary of Nairobi City County employees for the month of April hence we are looking for alternative ways to pay them,” said Prof Ojienda.
STRIKE STILL ON
However, the Kenya County Government Workers Union, Nairobi Branch Chairperson Bernard Inyangala said that they have not received the money and no communication from the county. He maintained that the strike was still on.
Mr Inyangala said that they have nothing more to discuss with the county.
“On Wednesday we will be paralyzing services at City Hall if the money is not deposited; so far we are still waiting and see what will happen,”said Mr Inyangala.
The county has over 13,000 workers with a wage bill of Sh1.3billion.
The money meant for their salaries was this month directed by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to the Kenya Revenue Authority to cater for arrears of up to Sh1 billion.
Mr Inyangala added that the infighting between the KRA and the County Government is affecting the welfare of the workers who are not party to the dispute.
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