More woes for cement maker as workers stage protest
Over 2,000 East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) workers have gone on strike against corruption and tribalism, adding to the woes already facing the cement maker.
The workers blame the High Court and the government for the company’s problems.
On Friday, the workers blocked the main entrance to EAPCC with heavy machinery and declared the premises a no-go zone.
John ole Kimanjoi, manager in charge of employee relations, and Timothy Ruhiu, the production manager, were roughed up by angry workers and forced to flee.
Trucks that had queued to load cement were forced to leave without it because of the impasse.
The company management is currently embroiled in court battle after acting Industrialisation minister Amason Kingi suspended the board of directors and managing director Kephar Tande on December 22, 2011, pending a forensic audit.
The suspended directors led by board chairman Mr Mark ole Karbol then moved to court to challenge the minister’s decision.
Other directors who filed the application are Titus Naikuni, (Kenya Airways CEO), Alex Kazongo (NSSF managing trustee) and lawyer Hamish Keith (a managing partner at Daly & Figgis Advocates).
Tension high
Tension has been high at EAPCC since January 9 when the court ruled that the suspended directors could resume duty.
The matter was complicated on Thursday when the High Court dismissed an application by Mr Kingi challenging the reinstatement of the suspended directors.
The court ruled that suspending its Monday order would plunge the company into even more problems.
The matter has also assumed a tribal dimension with the local Maasai blocking the main source of the company’s raw materials at Ngurunga, Kajiado county, claiming their people are being victimised while Kamba leaders have visited the factory twice to side with workers and the minister.
The factory is in Mavoko, Machakos county, while the mining sites are in Kajiado county. The Maasai say they will only relent and allow the company to mine after the problem is solved.
Since last Tuesday, workers have been holding peaceful demonstrations within the premises against the suspended board of directors blaming corruption, tribalism and oppression of workers on them.
On Monday, Mr Justice Joseph Mutava ordered the reinstatement of the chairman and other directors of the board and ordered the minister to stop interfering with the internal management of the company.
On the same day in the evening when the suspended directors tried to enter the office security guards stopped them at the gate.
