Alarm after Mombasa sends home municipal and parking officers

A Mombasa County officer charges motorists for parking at Makadara grounds on March 17, 2014. Mombasa municipal and parking officers were asked to surrender their uniforms on November 22, 2019. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The officers' contracts ran out and they were asked to surrender their uniforms.
  • They are now blaming the new officials who came into office in the months of May and June for their woes.
  • The county currently has no municipal workers on duty.

Parking and municipal council officers in Mombasa County are in limbo as their contracts expired and they were asked to surrender their uniforms.

Those who spoke to the Nation on condition of anonymity said this was the first time they had been asked not to work.

“When the contract comes to an end, we usually continue working until they are renewed," the source said.

"But this year we were told to leave the offices with no explanations given. More disappointing is that we were asked to give back the uniforms."

NO EXPLANATION

The workers recounted reporting for duty on Friday and being asked to leave their uniforms in the evening and wait to be recalled.

But no calls or other communication came so they did not go to work until Monday, when they decided to report to the offices and demand answers.

Another said, “We came back on Monday then they said they would call us. Why are we not being told what is happening?”

The workers blamed new officials who reported in May and June.

The county currently has no municipal workers on duty.

Half of the officers in the trafficking department are out of office and the remaining half have contracts that will expire in December.

COUNTY'S RESPONSE

Contacted for response, County Communication Director, Richard Chacha, said the happenings were normal and that there was no crisis.

Mr Chacha also said the number of contracts that are ending is insignificant.

“Contracts do not end at the same time. It depends on when the people were hired. Most of them are permanently employed. Contracts will be renewed based on merit," he said.

The officers are scheduled to meet with the officials on Friday to chart a way forward.