NYERI, Kenya, Oct 27 – Operations at the Postal Corporation of Kenya have ground to a halt after Posta Kenya workers went on strike to protest the non-payment of their salaries and the failure by their employer to remit statutory deductions for the past six months.
According to the Central Region Branch Secretary of the Communication Workers Union of Kenya (COWU), Solomon Shikanda, the strike will continue until all pending salary arrears are fully settled.
“We have exhausted all avenues, including dialogue, but none seem to be working. Even after performing our duties diligently, we are still not getting paid. We’ve said enough is enough — we will not resume work until our salaries are paid in full,” said Shikanda.
The industrial action follows the lapse of a strike notice issued by COWU more than a month ago, demanding that the government settle a Sh1.5 billion debt owed to Posta workers. Last week, COWU Secretary General Benson Okwaro gave the government until October 26 to clear the arrears, failure to which the strike would begin on October 27.
Shikanda decried the financial strain workers are facing due to the prolonged salary delays, noting that many have been driven into debt and depression.
“It’s nearly impossible to stay afloat without a salary in the current harsh economic times. We’ve taken up debts everywhere, landlords are on our necks, and some of our colleagues can’t afford food. Those with children in universities have had to ask them to defer their studies,” he lamented.
The union official maintained that workers are ready to call off the strike once their grievances are addressed. He urged the government to recover money owed to the corporation by various state agencies to enable payment of salaries.
“Huduma Centre owes us Sh1.6 billion in rent arrears dating back to 2013, while the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) owes Sh400 million for transporting election materials during the 2022 General Election. These funds alone could clear our arrears and sustain salaries for another year,” said Shikanda.
He emphasized that the workers’ demands are legitimate and grounded in the law.
“We are simply fighting for what is rightfully ours — our salaries. We’re not asking for a pay rise; we’re demanding our basic rights as guaranteed under labour laws,” he added.
