Retrenched civil servants pleads with the government to settle their dues

Embu,

Saturday December 16, 2023

KNA by Samuel Waititu

Civil servants from Embu County, among 20,000 workers retrenched 23 years ago, have appealed to the government for Sh3.4 billion in dues awarded by the High Court.

The award came after a five-year protracted court battle between the workers and the government that saw the High court in 2015 declare the retrenchment discriminatory, null and void and ordered them to be paid the said amount as reparation.

Justice Nduma Nderi had also ordered the government to compute and settle dues for each of the affected workers within 60 days, a move they claim has not occurred since them.

The retrenches from Embu are suffering from poverty and misery, struggling to support their families and continue to suffer in agonizing waits.

For instance, John Njue who was working with the Ministry of Agriculture said many of them had died having not received their dues and called on the President William Ruto led administration to address their plight to make their remaining days on earth worthwhile.

“It is unfortunate that successive regimes from the time of former President Moi have failed to pay us as we continue to perish having not enjoyed the fruits of our labor as civil servants,” he said. Over the years, they have been promised payment in full, but this has not been delivered.

Another affected worker, Mugo Njagi who was working with Inland Revenue Department and later seconded to Kenya Revenue Authority after its formation in 1995 said life has been unbearable as they have been living from hand to mouth since they were laid-off.

He urged the government to consider settling dues for many elderly individuals who are unable to fend for themselves, expressing their passionate plea for relief. 

Courtesy; KNA