Striking KBC staff put on notice

Striking Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) employees have been ordered to resume duty or face the sack.

Information minister Samuel Poghisio said Friday the strike was illegal and in bad faith. He gave the staff a 2pm deadline to report to work and said contract staff had been terminated.

“I would like to state from the outset that the strike was premature and the Ministry would therefore like to call upon all workers to immediately call off the strike and report to work,” Mr Poghisio said during a news conference at TelePosta Towers, Nairobi Friday.

“Those who will not have done so would be deemed to have absconded duty. As for the temporary employees who have also been on strike, they have already terminated their implied contract with the corporation. They must therefore reapply for their assignments anew.”

But the employees refused to back down claiming the minister was collaborating with the state broadcaster’s management to intimidate them into submission. Two hours after he issued the directive, the striking employees responded saying the strike was still on.

“The strike is on and we will not comply with the order to resume work at the corporation. The strike is not only legal but constitutional and anchored on Article 41(1) of the Constitution of Kenya,” said Nicholas Omondi.

Mr Poghisio directed that some of the 1,200 staff be sent home to reduce what he called a “bloated workforce” that he said was too expensive to maintain.

At KBC, there are at least 800 permanent employees while the rest are on contract. They go by the name “artistes” because most work in radio and TV as creative staff or presenters.

KBC staff went on strike Wednesday over what they termed as poor pay and non-payment of salary arrears.

The strike has affected normal programming including the Africa Cup of Nations pre-qualifying match between Kenya's Harambee Stars and Togo at the Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday.

However, live broadcasting of parliamentary proceedings, transmitted by KBC, was not affected.

The staff are demanding a pay raise they claim the management promised them on February 10.

The State broadcaster undertook a restructuring programme in which it promoted employees to new grades as reflected in the Code of Regulations.

However, they say it continued to pay its staff using the old grades and the new pay structure only benefited “a few selected managers.”

The matter came before Parliament yesterday when Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo demanded an urgent statement from the government on the looming crisis that could shut down Channel 1 TV and radio stations run by the broadcaster.

“The minister should explain why employees of KBC are the most poorly paid in comparison to workers of other State corporations,” Mr Kilonzo said.

On Thursday, Speaker Kenneth Marende directed two parliamentary committees to investigate issues raised by the striking KBC staff.

He gave the committees on Energy and Communication three weeks to table their findings in the House.

KBC managing director Waithaka Waihenya called for patience saying the Information permanent secretary Dr Bitange Ndemo had written to The Treasury requesting for more funds.

“I would also like to confirm that the workers were recently awarded a nine per cent salary increase and they will be paid another 12 per cent which will be backdated to July,” he said in an interview.