A major crisis is brewing within the civil service as the Union of Kenya Civil Servants has announced plans for a potential strike, set to begin in just 58 days.
This strike could disrupt essential services, especially at the county government level, due to delays by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) in implementing important agreements on pay and benefits that were made nearly four months ago.
In a letter seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the union expressed its concerns about the SRC’s failure to honor these agreements.
The letter, which was addressed to both the SRC and the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service Commission (PSC), highlighted that the remuneration and benefits for county government employees, particularly those in executive positions, have not been implemented as instructed.
The union pointed out that this delay is in direct violation of the Constitution, specifically Article 41(2), which ensures fair compensation.
Tom Odege, the Secretary General of the civil servants’ union, emphasized the unfairness of the situation, pointing out that while national government employees’ concerns had been addressed, those working in county governments have been left out.
This, according to Odege, constitutes discrimination, as the same benefits have been implemented for national government workers in similar positions.
The union has set a deadline of 60 days from January 21 for the SRC and PSC to implement the agreed-upon terms. If these terms are not met by then, the union has warned that an industrial strike will be the only option available to them.
Odege made it clear that if the situation is not resolved within this time frame, they will proceed with the strike, which would have significant implications for government services.
Previously, on September 3 of last year, the union had called off a planned strike after the government promised to implement the second phase of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi had announced that civil servants’ pay would be backdated to July 1 of that year, and workers were set to receive salary increases ranging from Ksh1,000 to Ksh30,000.
Additionally, Public Service Principal Secretary Amos Gathecha stated that civil servants would see an increase in their house allowances.
Under the new pay structure, the lowest-paid civil servants would receive an additional Ksh1,000, bringing their monthly salary from Ksh16,950 to Ksh18,250. Meanwhile, those earning Ksh19,220 would see their salary rise to Ksh20,560.
According to Gathecha’s letter, the second phase of the salary adjustments, as outlined in appendices I and II, will be applied to civil servants in grades CSG17 to CSG4 starting July 1, 2024.
This will also include an increase in house allowances, as specified in Appendix III, which will be implemented for civil servants in the same grades.
If the agreed-upon changes are not implemented as promised, the union’s strike threat looms large, and it could lead to widespread disruption of government services, particularly at the county level.
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