By Moses Mwaura
Nairobi branch County Government Workers Union Secretary General Benson Olianga and union Chairman John Murioki have been arrested by EACC detectives for soliciting for a bribe from Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko.
The two union officials were tricked and found taking a bribe from Sonko in a bid to stop the Nairobi county government workers from going on strike.
Olianga who had demanded Sh1million from the Governor received an upfront of Sh 200,000 in treated notes on Tuesday afternoon in his office at Hemers house in Nairobi and he was immediately arrested by undercover EACC detectives.
The strike which was planned to start on Tuesday failed to kick off.
The Kenya County Government Workers Union had threatened to go on strike over workers arrears amounting to more than 18 billion.
Last month, Sonko acknowledged that City Hall owes county staff a total of Sh18 billion in unpaid statutory deduction.
“This has caused untold suffering especially for those who have to pay from their pockets for treatment covered under NHIF. It has also caused untold suffering to retirees,” Sonko said.
Speaking when he met Nairobi City County Workers Union, Sonko said his administration will make sure that the suffering of the workers are addressed.
However the governor said any of the 15,000 workers heeding Olunga’s strike call would be rendered jobless.
“Please take note that Nairobi City has more than a million jobless but qualified people who are ready to take your positions as soon as you down your tools,” Sonko said.
