• The workers said they want all their salaries paid in one package so that they can attend to their financial demands.
• They claimed that the company has over Sh200 million pending bills and suppliers for the water treatment drugs cannot supply any more.
Image: KURGAT MARINDANY
A week after the Senate grilled Governor Joseph Lenku over audit queries in county water services, staff now claim they did not receive salaries for five months.
The 140 members of staff at the Oloolaiser Water and Sewerage Company claimed on Monday accused the county government of ignoring their advice to overhaul the management of the company.
“Our children are not going to school, our landlords are threatening to throw us out for non-payment of rent. We also have other bills like medical, food, electricity and water which are in arrears,” a staff member said.
On Tuesday last week, Lenku appeared before the Senate and was questioned on concerns raised by the Auditor General that included overpayment of allowances to acting staff, lack of an approved procurement plan and failure to have a budget.
Other questions raised are the county’s lack of a qualified list of suppliers, an unsupported high wage bill, non-remittance of statutory deductions, lease and regulatory fees and unsupported administrative expenses.
The Auditor General also earlier pointed out unresolved matters from previous years and queried the lack of Water Service Regulatory Board licenses.
Additionally, the county government was found to have failed to appoint boards of directors of the companies and to ensure they convened annual general meetings.
On Monday, the staff claimed some of the workers in the company, who are holders of Diploma qualification, have been appointed managers and now earning more than Sh200,000 per month.
“They are many of them. There are degree holders who are earning the same salary as Form 4 leavers. There are many unresolved issues in this company, for example, the head of security is a Form 4 leaver and he is earning more than Sh60,000,” an employee claimed.
The company, which distributes water from the Kiserian dam, started three days ago to pump water to consumers after it sourced treatment drugs from another water company.
The company’s managing director Dr Salau Rogei confirmed the workers had not received pay because of the devastating drought that hit the county.
On the salary disparity claims, Rogei said he is still new and will follow up on the matter.
"Dear employees, this is to inform you officially of the late payments of your salaries. I am aware you receive your salaries by the 5th of every month and am alive of the fact there might be certain difficulties brought about by this delay,” Rogei said in a letter addressed to the workers on Tuesday last week.
"The delay is due to the prolonged drought that necessitated the closure of operations at the dam, frequent power disconnections and Ukulima Sacco prioritising paying dividends affecting the salary payment agreement,” he added.
The MD said, however, power has been restored at the dam and operations are to commence to boost revenue collection.
“We expect the salaries will be ready by April 21, 2023. Please, I request you to be calm and patient. I also take this opportunity to commend you for your resilience and hard work,” Rogei said.
As of Monday, a few staff who are members of Ukulima Sacco had been paid one month's salary, raising questions about the promises made by the MD last week.
The workers said they want all their salaries paid in one package so that they can attend to their financial demands.
They claimed that the company has over Sh200 million pending bills and suppliers for the water treatment drugs cannot supply any more.
The company supplies water to Kiserian, Matasia and Ongata Rongai. Some of the residents the Star interviewed claimed the last time they received Oloolaiser water was two years ago and are now depending on water peddled by donkey cart owners.
“There are many issues that are bedeviling this company. Those raised by the Auditor General are just facial issues. The workers employed here have no professional values for the company,” a staff member claimed.
The Star sought a one-on-one interview with Rogei but it did not materialise as he said he has many engagements.
“I will call you to fix another date because I have been busy the whole of last week,” Rogei said on the phone.
When the Star attempted to call him Sunday night, he did not respond. We also sent a message the same night and he did not reply.
On Monday morning, we called him and he did not pick up the phone call.
Image: KURGAT MARINDANY