The County Government of Mombasa has secured an advance facility with the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) to end perennial salary delays to its workers.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir announced that the county government will on Monday sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with KCB saying the agreement will guarantee timely remittance of staff salaries and other dues.
Nassir said he made a pledge during the campaign period that he will put forward a lasting solution to the perennial problem of salary delays to boost the morale of county workers.
“Our most significant asset is our workers. The output of our administration shall be determined by the work ethics and commitment of our workforce,” said the Governor.
Speaking during the commemoration of 2022 Governor’s X-Mass tree lighting at the Treasury Square Saturday, Nassir said the County Assembly of Mombasa has approved the plan to seek support from financial institutions on the payroll processing.
“The signing of the MOU will bring to an end the thorny issue of salary delays for the county employees,” said the Governor.
The local authority has been faced with numerous industrial actions since the advent of devolution by the health workers over salary delays, non-remittance of statutory deductions and promotions among other grievances.
Health workers in public hospitals last week called off their strike after the County government was granted a court order to halt the industrial action.
The cancellation of the strike was a huge relief for Mombasa residents and those from neighbouring counties as they largely depend on public hospitals for treatment.
The workers who include doctors, nurses and clinical officers had on 5th December through their respective unions issued a seven-day strike notice to the Mombasa County government demanding payment of their two months’ salary arrears (October and November), remittance of statutory deductions among other grievances.
The unions accused the county government for persistently ignoring the issues raised particularly on perennial salary delays and non-remittance of statutory deductions including National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and bank loans.
According to the National Secretary General of Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentist Union (KMPDU) Davji Bhimji Atellah, the strike has been called following a court order issued last Friday.
Nassir who took office about three months ago has inherited a myriad of challenges that includes delayed salaries, non-remittance of statutory deductions and mounts of garbage at undesignated areas.
“Since we took office we have already cleared all garbage at undesignated areas and have put concrete measures to enhance efficiency and offer better services to the residents,” said Nassir who was flanked by the Mombasa County Commissioner John Otieno and other local leaders during the ceremony.
However, he added that they will also need to carry out a staff audit to ensure that the monies paid do not go to ghost workers.
Nassir said all the 5,300 employees of the county will have to be registered afresh through biometrics to weed out the ghost workers.
According to Nassir, he will not conduct a head count of the employees but will use technology to capture all those who work for the county.
By Mohamed Hassan
