Minister lays off striking KBC workers
Information and Communications Minister Samuel Poghisio. Mr Poghisio has directed the KBC board of directors to advertise the positions on Monday and replace the striking workers. Photo/FILE
The striking employees of Kenya Broadcasting Corporation were sacked on Friday after defying an ultimatum to resume duty by 2pm.
Information and Communication Minister Samuel Poghisio directed the KBC board of directors to advertise the positions on Monday and replace the workers.
There are 812 permanent employees and 400 contracted workers at the State broadcaster.
Mr Poghisio said the strike was illegal and the employees’ actions were “in bad faith”.
“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,” he said during a press conference as he gave the 2pm deadline for the workers to resume work.
“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 re-apply for their assignments anew.”
Refused to back down
But the employees refused to back down claiming the minister was collaborating with KBC’s management to intimidate them into submission.
Two hours after he issued the directive, the striking employees responded with their statement saying they would continue downing their cameras and notebooks.
“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, a KBC employee who read the statement.
The employees went on strike on Wednesday over what they termed as poor pay, non-payment of salary arrears, lack of promotion and sexual harassment of female staff by bosses.
The strike has affected normal programming at the station, including news bulletin. Apart from parliamentary proceedings, KBC’s news outlets have since been running music and other entertainment programmes.
Mr Poghisio also directed that some of the 1,200 be sent home to reduce what he called a “bloated workforce”. Two House committees are investigating the issues raised by the striking staff.
