Eugine Wabwile 
FLORENCE SIMIYU
The Bungoma County Workers’ Union has issued a stern warning to the county government, threatening to mobilize mass protests if permanent contracts are not given to employees whose employment was ordered by the High Court in 2019.
Addressing journalists in Bungoma town, the union leadership demanded immediate compliance with the court directive, which required the affected workers to be formally absorbed and issued with appointment letters.
Union officials accused the County Finance Executive of deliberately frustrating the process, despite a budget of KSh90 million having been set aside to cater for the workers’ salaries.
They argued that the refusal to act amounted to open defiance of the rule of law.Kennedy Wekunda, the union’s chairman, stressed that workers had waited for far too long for justice, adding that patience among members was running out. He said the government had no moral ground to deny the employees their rightful contracts.Union Secretary Oscar Sifuma echoed the sentiments, insisting that the county administration had run out of excuses. He said the workers had continued to deliver services to the public faithfully, yet the county government had failed to reciprocate with fair employment terms.
Programs Coordinator Moses Maelo warned that should the government fail to implement the 2019 ruling, the union would have no option but to take to the streets. He noted that demonstrations would not only disrupt operations but also expose the county government’s disregard for justice.The union leaders further appealed to the public to support their call, arguing that protecting workers’ rights was key to ensuring better services across the county.
They maintained that a demoralized workforce would directly affect service delivery to residents.The standoff now places Bungoma’s county leadership under growing pressure — to either honor the High Court ruling and regularize the workers’ contracts or face the reality of mass action that could paralyze county operations.
