I read with great concern and regret a Press release by Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on a strike notice issued by the secretary-general of the County Workers Union. The governor threatened to sack union members who would go on strike.
It was ill-advised and wrong from the onset. I want to challenge Mr Sonko to realise that his first clients are the county workers.
Where will the City in the Sun and the new Nairobi emerge from if the workers are not well taken care of? A worker who is motivated and well taken care of will do their job efficiently and effectively.
The threats to the union leadership will only precipitate the workers’ anger. It’s always said that money is the key to everything and I thought Mr Sonko understood this.
The workers are his key asset and the union leadership should not be treated otherwise. Name calling and chest thumping will not solve anything.
Both the union leadership and the governor are equal partners in matters of members’ interests. Union developments and progress on collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and deliberations should be confidential and only shared when necessary.
Confidentiality of deliberations is a key component of the CBA negotiation that should be respected at all cost.
You can’t spur confidence in people or workers and try to pretend to assure them of your support. It never works like that and will never.
Alluding to issues of compromise and threats as the governor understands court battles is a clear indication that the governor and his administration are set for a rough path with his workers.
This kind of impunity and populist tactics should not come from an administrator of a county like Nairobi. He should work with people by solving their problems and not adding to their problems.
The workers are part of the Nairobi residents whose lives he promised to change and now he wants to sack them. I am wondering.
-Christopher Okinda, Ketwau union committee member, via email
I have been wondering why so many Kenyan law students fail exams in local universities. Apart from the alleged manipulation of results to increase tyranny of numbers in coffers of local exam bodies through repeat exams, the recent Supreme Court case revealed certain attributes or qualities that our students may be lacking in their quest to join the Bar.
As demonstrated by senior counsel during the presidential petition, the job requires one to master the English language and be able to use dramatic words like “smoking gun,” “science fiction’’ and “ thereon.’’ They must also be born “actors” who can use their hands, eyes and even mouths to express “shock and awe” to prove their opponents wrong.
Finally, they must have “tricks” up their sleeves such as sneaking new evidence into the proceedings.
Frankly speaking, if our courtrooms were an art class, our learned friends could easily draw a black picture on a white canvas using white paint.
-Joe Musyoki, financial auditor, Kitengela, via email
PAYE Tax Calculator
Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.
