Road workers demand 8 months pay from Chinese firm

A Chinese company working on the Kisumu Boys Roundabout-Mamboleo and Mamboleo-Miwani-Muhoroni road has been accused of neglecting its workers.

Chinese Overseas Construction and Engineering Company China Railway Number 10, according to the workers, has not paid them their salary for the last eight months, while sending away workers on unpaid leave.

James Waswa, who is among the 20 aggrieved workers, wondered why they are being sent on unpaid leave while there is no payments for the eight months they have worked.

They are now asking President William Ruto administration to come to their aid to get payment for work done.

“We have gone to the labour offices but there is no breakthrough, we read some sinister motive there,” he said.

Waswa said they are suffering since they can’t pay rent, buy food or even seek medical attention owing to lack of remittance to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

When contacted, one of the company’s senior official Emmanuel Adede rubbished the claims saying the delay in salary payments has been necessitated by the change of guard in the government.

“We have also done work which has not been paid by the government. Once we get payments we will pay all the salary arrears owed,” he said.

Adede further noted that NEMA gave them the go ahead to establish a quarry in Kisian area terming the allegations by the workers as lacking basis.

He clarified that only workers at the Mamboleo flyover are affected by late payments.

The company shot to the spotlight in 2017 after the iconic Sigiri Bridge which was under construction in Budalang’i constituency collapsed.

Speaking on Monday at the site next to Kisumu Mamboleo Agricultural Show, Joseph Olembo, another worker said they have been neglected as low carder workers while those in higher position continue to get paid.

Olembo accused the company of underhand dealings against the government’s rule.

“Currently, the company is selling cement which they are importing duty free, they are in business, it is illegal business,” he said.

He further said the company bought a stone crusher worth Sh900 million while they could not pay their workers.

He said the company is already crushing stone in Kisian area, with no government approvals including Nema assessment report.