Siaya water company workers call off strike

Siaya-Bondo Water and Sanitation Company (SIBO) workers’ strike that has been on for the last two weeks has been called off.

According to the Kenya County Government workers’ union SIBO branch Secretary Mr Walter Omolo, they decided to call off the strike after the county government of Siaya promised to address all their grievances before the end of next month.

The over 100 workers downed their tools due to accrued salary arrears of more than Ksh5.1 million that had accrued over the last three months, which the secretary says the county government has promised to clear following the intervention of the county assembly’s water and irrigation committee.

“I would like to tell the staff of SIBO water that the strike is now off following the intervention of the county assembly water committee,” he said.

Speaking shortly after their day-long meeting with the county assembly’s water committee and the County Executive Committee for water, Mr Omolo revealed that the county government promised to clear the debt in the next ten days.

He added that in a memorandum that was signed by the CEC for water and SIBO management together with the workers’ union, the county government also vowed to remit all their statutory deductions including NHIF, NSSF, Sacco and welfare subscription alongside other deductions.

“The staff is happy and they’re ready to work,” he said.

Mr Omolo, who appreciated the county government’s commitment in mediating the agreement, has assured Siaya County residents that water will now start flowing in their taps which have been dry for the last two weeks.