Sacked workers hold demos outside Kirubia Stadium

Casual workers outside the Sh247 million Kirubia Stadium in Tharaka-Nithi County on September 24, 2020, where they held demonstrations demanding payment of Sh120, 000 from the contractor.


Photo credit: Alex Njeru | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • Toddy Civil Engineering and Construction Company site manager, Boniface Shiveka, confirmed that the company owes the complainants the money and assured that they will be paid.
  • Addressing the issue, Tharaka-Nithi County Commissioner Ms Beverly Opwora said she had received the reports and discussed the matter with the contractor who has promised to pay by Monday next week.

Thirty casual workers on Thursday held demonstrations outside Kirubia Stadium in Tharaka-Nithi County demanding pay from the contractor; Toddy Civil Engineering and Construction Company.

Addressing journalists outside the facility, the furious workers who were sacked three weeks ago said that the company constructing the Sh247 million sports facility owes them more than Sh120,000 in total.

The ongoing construction of Sh247 million Kirubia Stadium in Tharaka-Nithi County on September 24, 2020. Thirty dismissed casual workers held demonstrations outside the facility demanding payment of Sh120, 000 from the contractor.

Photo credit: Alex Njeru | Nation Media Group

Mr Antony Mutwiri, one of the casuals, said the contractor dismissed them and employed other people after they went on a go-slow to demand their payment.

He said the money had accumulated for two months and that every time they asked for the pay, their immediate supervisors asked them to remain patient and told others that he was not aware of the money.

Casual workers outside the Sh247 million Kirubia Stadium in Tharaka-Nithi County on September 24, 2020, where they held demonstrations demanding payment of Sh120, 000 from the contractor.

Photo credit: Alex Njeru | Nation Media Group

“We are demanding our pay because when we insisted on the payment, the supervisor sacked us and employed very young people,” said Mr Mutwiri.

Mutwiri said they are worried that the contractor may not pay them because the facility is nearing completion.

Ms Mary Kagwira, another worker, said she feared that some of them are likely to lose the money because they were promised that their money will be deposited into an account belonging to one of them, something they doubt will happen.

Toddy Civil Engineering and Construction Company site manager, Boniface Shiveka, confirmed that the company owes the complainants the money and assured that they will be paid.

The ongoing construction of Sh247 million Kirubia Stadium in Tharaka-Nithi County on September 24, 2020. Thirty dismissed casual workers held demonstrations outside the facility demanding payment of Sh120, 000 from the contractor.

Photo credit: Alex Njeru | Nation Media Group

Addressing the issue, Tharaka-Nithi County Commissioner Ms Beverly Opwora said she had received the reports and discussed the matter with the contractor who has promised to pay by Monday next week.

“The contractor has promised to pay the money by Monday next week and I will make a follow-up to ensure that they are all paid,” said Ms Opwora.