Youths in Kilifi protest over the sacking of about 1500 casual workers

Youths in Kilifi County Tuesday demonstrated along Malindi road sides and streets protesting the approval of Kilifi County Assembly to sack over 1,500 casual workers.
The casual workers whom majority are the youths carried placards protesting in Malindi town before converging at the County Assembly premises where they scattered garbage at the entrance.
Led by a youthful Sokoni ward MCA Mr.Gilbert Peru, the youth also presented a petition at the assembly demanding a revocation of the law that led to their being declared redundant.
Speaking to the press, Mr.Peru said, the casuals have been working for six years running with no hope of ever getting employed by the Kilifi County government and yet the County assembly was being used by some individuals in the executive to replace them with their relatives.
The motion was moved by Kaya Fungo MCA, Alphonse Mwayaa seeking to terminate all casuals under the County Public Service Board with the exception of those working in health facilities.
MCA Mwayaa said the wage bill for casuals in Kilifi County was too high and for instance water department alone with 478 casuals go home with Sh. 17 million every month.
Speaking at the same function, Mr.Justin Mangi who is the chairman of the Kilifi County Casuals Association said, he had presented a petition to the clerk of the County Assembly who promised to look into their grievances.
“We have discussed with the clerk and he took the petition promising us response in 60 days,” he said.
Kilifi County Assembly Clerk, Mr. Michael Ngala said that the matter will be presented to the committees concerned for action.
He also called on the casuals’ representatives to restrain their members from frequent demonstrations as the matter was being addressed.
By Simon Guruba