There is confusion over the planned strike at Kenya Broadcasting Corporation after the government yielded to their demands to a number of reforms including harmonising salaries, according to sources at the company, but failed to give a timeline for implementation.
“(PS Dr Bitange) Ndemo addressed staff outside Broadcasting House and he simply agreed to everything,” said a KBC employee who attended the meeting. “But some things are not clear to everyone.
The source said it is not clear whether the strike, slated for February 23, has been called off as their representatives were yet to give an official response to the development.
Dr Ndemo, wo met KBC management on Tuesday and promised to address satff today, appears to have come in to calm emotions with the strike date nearing and, hopefully, buy more time in sorting out the matter.
Mr Ndemo assured the employees that their salaries would be harmonised and artists, the name given to casual employees, would be accommodated by a new body to be formed called SIGNET. This means they will not be paid by the government directly.
Jackal News reported that at the meeting, which was attended by KBC Board and staff representatives, Bitange Ndemo said the government would give all the employees an immediate 22 percent salary increase, while their demand of a 500 percent increase will be handled by the Salary and Remuneration Commission (SRC). BUSINESS TODAY has not independently verified this report but will keep you posted on the development.
“That is what we wanted,” Jackal News quotes a source saying.“The 22 percent increase is designed to cool the temperatures, but the PS told us that our salary issue will be the first case to be handled by the SRC commission probably next week.
In addition, the PS said the government will hold talks with several mortgage companies, including the National Housing and Finance Corporation, so that “all KBC staff members will get a comprehensive mortgage package.” All KBC staff members will be audited to ensure that they have qualified for various jobs they hold in the state broadcaster.
“That means everybody will be vetted,” the source added, explaining that this was the key demand that most staff wanted because there are people who hold office they should not be allowed to run.
The Communication Commission of Kenya will audit all the KBC equipment with a view to replacing those that are out of date, the PS announced. In addition, the government will pull down the wooden block that serves as the news room and nearby, build a 10-storey building in which the KBC newsroom will occupy four floors.
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