Irony as trade unionist fights for Sh9m pension
Eastern
By
Stephen Nzioka
| Aug 06, 2024
For over 30 years Joseph Muuo Nzoka, 86, was at the centre of labour disputes.
As the secretary general of the Kenya County Government Workers Union that covered Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu, Makueni and Kajiado, Nzoka played a key role in arbitrating differences between workers and their employers.
Nzoka pushed for better terms for workers.
READ MORE
Current Parliament in a class of it's own in self-preservation bid
Violence erupts at disputed Samburet estate as motorcycles burn, youths injured
Three killed, scores injured in road accident on BungomaEldoret highway
Toll charge on upgraded Rironi Gilgil Road set at Sh8 a kilometre
Populism trumped reason during Finance Bill deliberations
New conservation initiative targets Upper Tana to secure Nairobi's water supply
Of kickbacks and spectre of stalled projects
Betrayers? Irony of 187 MPs skipping crucial Finance Bill vote
Employers warned to revert to old NSSF deductions or risk jail
But in retirement, Nzoka, now frail, is embroiled in a court battle over his retirement benefits from a union he diligently served.
He served his employer with a notice to retire in 2007, but the letter remained unanswered and he continued to serve until 2015 when secretary general, Roba Duba, wrote to the national treasurer, Michael Kariuki, to have Nzoka's gratuity calculated. It amounted to Sh9,008,429.
The agreement was that Nzoka was to be paid Sh308,429 and subsequently, Sh100,000 monthly until the gratuity was cleared.
According to court documents, payments stopped in 2020, with the trade unionist having received Sh1,957,769 only.
Unlike his heyday when he would be flanked by union officials during a crisis, a lonely Nzoka moved to the Employment and Labour Relations Court, Milimani, four years ago to get his dues.
"Attending a court case touching on me had never lingered in my mind before. As a unionist I stood with workers during negotiations and at their worst moments. This has really drained me," said Nzoka at his home in Kithimani, Machakos.
The union has contested the amount claimed, saying Nzoka was supposed to be paid Sh2,200,000 for his 32 years of service, and had therefore been overpaid.
"The union had erred while computing the gratuity. The union has already overpaid Mzee Muuo since he was only entitled to Sh2, 200,000," said Tom Kang'ethe, the national treasurer, in court.
But the court on June 16 ruled in favour of Nzoka.