A wave of protests swept across Kenya on Monday as employees of the Postal Corporation of Kenya (Posta) took to the streets demanding payment of their salaries, which have been delayed for seven months.
In Nairobi, angry workers marched through major streets carrying placards and blowing vuvuzelas, chanting, “We want our money.” Similar demonstrations were witnessed in Thika, Kiambu County, and other towns, as workers decried the government’s silence over their plight.
Some of the placards read: “No salary, no work” and “Seven months without pay is too much.” Many of the employees said they were struggling to meet basic needs such as rent and transport, forcing them to survive on loans.
“We cannot continue reporting to work without pay for seven months. Some of us have lost our houses and families because of financial stress,” lamented one worker outside the Thika Post Office.
The Central Region Secretary of the Communication Workers Union of Kenya (COWU), Solomon Shikanda, confirmed that the strike would continue until all pending dues are cleared.
“We have tried dialogue, but nothing has changed. The government owes us Ksh1.5 billion in unpaid salaries. Enough is enough,” said Shikanda.
COWU also accused government agencies, including Huduma Centres and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), of owing Posta billions in unpaid debts. According to the union, Huduma Centres owe Ksh1.6 billion in rent arrears dating back to 2013, while IEBC owes about Ksh400 million for transporting election materials in 2022.
“If these agencies paid what they owe, our salary arrears could easily be cleared,” added Shikanda.
The union has vowed to keep the pressure on until the government addresses the financial crisis facing the postal agency, warning that continued delays could paralyze essential communication and logistical services across the country.
 took to the streets demanding payment of their salaries, which have been delayed for seven months.){kind=link}