Kitui county workers tell off Ngilu over salary delay

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu is at war with the county employees over claims that their June 2019 salary has been delayed without reason.

The joint union of workers in Kitui county on Monday issued a seven-day strike ultimatum if they will not have been paid by the end of this week.

Kitui secretary general for workers union Benjamin Munyalo said they will down their tools and demonstrate to the governor’s office in demand of their salaries.

The workers have refused to abide to an internal memo which was sent to them last week from the county secretary’s office asking them to be patient as the salary will delay.

It said the Kitui County Assembly failed to approve the supplementary budget which was to cater for their salaries.

However, the workers said they were aware that their salaries were not factored in the supplementary budget which was only catered to development funds.

Kitui County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Kilonzo, Munyalo confirmed that the fund for salaries is approved once a financial year begins to cater for 12 months.

He further accused the executive of embezzling salaries and development funds, saying that workers should be told “the truth’ and blame games should end.

The County Assembly rejected the supplementary budget a week ago as the executive requested for a second supplementary budget in the financial year 2018/2019.

The union said this was the second time they were facing the salary delay even after an agreement that they would be paid before the 5th of every month.

They want Governor Ngilu to ensure that they are paid as per the last regime: on the 26th every month.