Pan Paper Mills Workers on Strike - Courtesy of Daily Nation Newspaper
The workers held demonstrations in Webuye town paralyzing transport at Sango area on the Eldoret-Malaba highway as they waved twigs and chanted slogans against the government.
They accused government officials of misleading them to vote Yes at the referendum on the promise that the factory would resume full operations.
“Are we like chiefs and their assistants, who were used to campaign for the new Constitution? Immediately after the passing of the new Constitution the factory went quiet,” said a worker.
The factory closed down due to lack of funds to sustain its operations two weeks ago, sending more than 700 recalled employees at three of the mills home.
Sources at the factory said there are no funds sustain its operations.
The workers are claiming last month salaries.
A section of workers also have salary arrears datingg back to November last year when the revival plan started.
Industrialisation permanent secretary Karanja Kibicho, while speaking to the Nation on phone denied the claims saying money for the revival of the mills is available and all workers have been paid their dues.
“If a worker has not been paid his salary, then definitely there is a problem,” he said.
The PS urged residents and workers to be patient as the government works out a re-opening formula.
Dr Kibicho pointed out that the government is committed to revive the mills.
He blamed the delay in the re-opening to legal hurdles posed by receiver mangers, who have filed a case in court to stop the government from taking over the mills.
President Kibaki led a high-powered team of government officials in the official reopening of the paper firm a few days to the August 4 referendum.
The factory machines went silent only a few days after the President's visit.
