Workers in Trans Nzoia County have given the county government a 72-hour ultimatum to pay salaries that have been delayed for the past two months.
The move has raised tensions between county staff and officials, with employees warning that they may take industrial action if their demands are not met.
Union representatives say that both civil servants and casual workers across departments such as health, education, and administration are affected.
“Our colleagues have families to feed and bills to pay. Waiting for months without salaries is unacceptable. We demand that the county government acts immediately,” a union official said.
The ultimatum comes after several attempts to engage the county treasury have failed to yield results. Workers argue that delayed payments are causing financial hardship, lowering morale, and affecting the quality of services provided to residents.
County leaders acknowledge the delays but blame them on cash flow challenges caused by reduced allocations from the national government. They say efforts are underway to clear the arrears, but no specific timeline has been given.
Economic analysts note that such delays are common in counties with tight budgets. They warn that prolonged payment issues could trigger strikes, disrupting essential services like hospitals and schools.
Residents have expressed concern that ongoing unrest among county workers could affect critical services. Meanwhile, union leaders have emphasized that while they are open to negotiations, patience is running out.
As the 72-hour deadline approaches, all eyes are on Trans Nzoia County officials to see how they will respond and whether employees will finally receive their long-overdue salaries.
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