At least 490 former employees of the defunct Nyamira municipal council are yet to be paid their salary arrears amounting to Sh198 million, their leaders have revealed.
According to them, their salaries from December 2012 to March 2013 were held without explanations by the former local authorities who have since been absorbed by the devolved governments.
Speaking at Nyamira town on Saturday, the workers led by chairman Moses Okebiro gave the county government an ultimatum of one month to resolve the issue before they seek legal address since most of them are said to be suffering.
“We worked for the municipal council but we were not paid during the 2013 electioneering period. We have launched the complaints for a long time but the county government has failed to address the issue. We are suffering and the county has only a month to pay our dues amounting to Sh198 million,” he said.
The workers who have since been absorbed by the county government said their initial efforts to seek justice were sabotaged by Transitional Authority of Kinuthia Mwangi which had promised to ensure they are paid.
“The TA is behind our woes. We presented the case during transfer of functions but we were told to wait till things are put in order. The time has since expired and if the county cannot resolve the matter then let them prepare for a legal battle,” he added.
They also accused the county leadership of delaying their promotions according to the Public Service act which they said was being contravened.
“We are discriminated by the county government because none of us has ever been promoted according to Public Service Act. We demand that the county also solves that as well,” Okebiro added.