Patmoz
Postal services across Kenya have been paralysed after the Communication Workers Union (COWU) declared a nationwide strike to protest over six months of unpaid salaries at the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK).
Speaking during the launch of the industrial action, COWU Secretary General Benson Okwaro condemned what he termed as “blatant injustice and gross neglect” by both the corporation’s management and the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, accusing them of ignoring workers’ repeated pleas for intervention.
“We shall not relent. Our members have endured untold suffering for half a year without a single penny. This strike will persist until all pending dues are cleared and justice is served,” Okwaro declared.
The union said over 2,000 employees have been affected, many now facing severe financial strain, unable to pay rent, medical bills, or school fees. Okwaro described the situation as a violation of workers’ constitutional rights and a “betrayal of public servants who have continued working under deplorable conditions.”
The strike has disrupted mail and courier services in major towns, with the union warning that industrial action will continue indefinitely until all arrears are paid.
COWU also hinted at seeking support from COTU (K) and other labour federations should the impasse persist — a move likely to intensify pressure on the government.
Once a key state agency in communication and logistics, the Postal Corporation of Kenya has been struggling with declining revenues, mounting debts, and delayed reforms amid digital transformation.
Okwaro reaffirmed the union’s commitment to defend the dignity and welfare of communication workers, insisting that fair pay and respect for labour rights “are non-negotiable pillars of Kenya’s social justice and economic growth.”
Shadrack Nyakoe
