By John Kariuki
The Communication Workers Union (COWU) has declared a nationwide strike, paralysing operations at the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK), as more than 2,000 employees downed their tools in protest over unpaid salaries stretching beyond six months.
Speaking during the official launch of the industrial action, Secretary General Benson Okwaro decried what he termed as “blatant injustice and gross neglect” of employees who have continued to serve the public under deplorable conditions without remuneration.
Okwaro, an unyielding champion of workers’ rights, said the union would not call off the strike until every shilling owed to staff is paid in full. He accused both the management of the Postal Corporation and the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy of turning a deaf ear to the cries of workers despite 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 leader lamented that many employees have been forced into dire financial distress, with some unable to pay rent, cater for medical bills, or educate their children. He described the situation as a betrayal of the constitutional rights of Kenyan workers and a glaring failure of leadership in managing state corporations.
> “It is unconscionable that in a country that prides itself on promoting social justice, government employees are subjected to such indignity and despair,” he added.
The strike, which has disrupted mail and courier services across several towns, is expected to escalate pressure on authorities to resolve the impasse swiftly. According to COWU, the action will continue indefinitely until a concrete solution is reached.
COWU has further hinted at mobilizing solidarity from other labour federations under the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) should the stalemate persist — a move likely to amplify the crisis within the communication sector.
The Postal Corporation of Kenya, once a vital state agency in communication and logistics, has in recent years grappled with declining revenues, mounting debts, and a shrinking customer base due to rapid digital transformation. Efforts to restructure the entity and modernize its operations have faced delays, leaving thousands of workers uncertain about their future.
Okwaro reaffirmed that the union remains steadfast in defending the dignity and welfare of all communication workers, emphasizing that fair pay and respect for labour rights are non-negotiable tenets of Kenya’s democratic and economic progress.