U.S. embassy on the spot as 358 guards up in arms over dismissal

358 guards from (Kenya Kazi) KK security stationed at the United States embassy in Nairobi have protested the manner in which their employer decided to dismiss them from work.

It is alleged that the guards are owed over Ksh.1billion as disputed  overtime  allowance.

Appearing at the Milimani law courts on Friday, the guards through their elected representatives Charles Waweru, Abednego Mutua and Charles  Oluoch, lamented that their employer had acted unlawfully by terminating their employment.

The guards have issued a demand for an award they say was issued to them by the court in an earlier ruling on March 26, 2013.

KK security services which was acquired by a Canadian firm Garda World Protective Services,  is the world’s largest privately owned security company with leading bases around the world.

The embattled guards further noted that in 2002, KK security was awarded a contract by the United States to provide security services to its embassy headquarters in Nairobi and to residences of American officials as well as diplomats working in Kenya pursuant to their specifications.

Their representative said that since then, the security firm and their employer have had protracted disputes over the aspects of union representation, recognition of union payment of overtime and commuter allowances.

He also claimed that they were in possession of evidence that the Federal Government of the United States of America on January 23, 2019 released $1.1 million (Ksh.10.4million), an  amount yet to be paid to the  guards who instead were served with dismissal letters.

According to the guards, the U.S. embassy and it’s diplomats working in Kenya are at risk as the dismissal has brought about major security lapse, exposing the embassy to security threats.