Paralysis Looms as Govt Workers Vow Action Over 4-Month Salary Delay

Kenyans are stirring into paralysis in the postal services after Postal Corporation of Kenya employees decried delayed salaries threatening to down tools.

Led by the Secretary General of Kericho Branch, Benson Okwaro, the workers on Tuesday called for immediate intervention by relevant stakeholders, or else, they will take necessary actions.

According to the workers, the delay in salaries is putting their lives on hold as some of them are unable to cater for their needs like rent, school fees, and daily meals.

The workers through the Communication Union of Kenya are urging the stakeholders to prioritise the welfare of the workers who are facing financial challenges due to the delay.

“Our staff are going through a lot because of unpaid salaries. We demand an immediate payment of salaries in posta cooperation of Kenya,” the SG read the notice in part.

“We wish to formally address the ongoing issue of delayed salary payment which has significantly impacted our members. We are deeply concerned by the persistent delay in the disbursement of salaries to members which is a clear violation of the basic rights,” the notice continued.

According to the workers, timely payment of wages is not only a legal obligation but also a fundamental aspect of the trust and respect that should exist between an employer and its workforce.

The workers revealed that attempts to address the issue have been met with threats and intimidation from management, leaving them in financial distress as schools set to reopen and bills quickly accumulating.

“The delay has caused undue hardships, stress, and financial insecurity for many of our members. Our members are unable to pay rent, and school fees as schools reopen and we cannot continue like this,” Okwaro informed.

The workers have decried that their last wages were received in August 2024.

Hopes for the salaries to be paid anytime earlier have also been squashed as the resolution lies in the return of senior executives, who are currently on vacation and expected back at work in February.

The delay comes despite the government reforms in January 2024 that had promised that the Postal Corporation of Kenya would be a thing of the past as the agency embarks on a myriad of transformations to become a viable e-commerce and logistics hub, the then ICT CS Eliud Owalo had promised.