Economy

Temporary staff want Sh18m after railways contract terminated

rvr

RVR workers protest over pay. FILE Photo | Laban Walloga | NMG

More than 100 casual workers contracted by the Rift Valley Railways (RVR) in Eldoret and Malaba are demanding over Sh18 million in wages following the termination of a 25-year contract with the Kenya Railways.

The workers hired to maintain and clean tracks claimed they had not received payments since May.

The Kenya Railways terminated the concession deal with the RVR on August 31.

“We expected the firm to pay us but they never honoured the contract which expired when the concession deal was terminated,” said Peter Muyera of Vijana Tosha Mzalendo Youth Group.

Mr Muyera, who was a signatory to the agreement between RVR and nine self-help groups in the region, said they were to receive their total payments before expiry of the contract on 31 August 2017.

READ: RVR’s 25 year rail contract cancelled

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The workers Tuesday expressed fears of losing their pay after the Kenya Railways took back the entire train transport business.

“The RVR has remained silent on how and when it will pay us our dues now that the contract with KRC was terminated,” said Mr Muyera adding that the workers were contemplating moving to court.

The RVR took over the operations of the old railway in 2006 in an agreement to improve provision of services between Kenya and Uganda.