Lang’ata cemetery workers held a protest within the cemetery premises over delayed salaries blocking our mourners holding burial ceremonies.
The employees lamented that they had not yet received payment for over six months despite their continuous hard work at the premises.
While protesting on Wednesday, September 20, the workers burned car tyres and carried placards chanting that they deserved the pay.
Further, they locked the gates into the cemetery leaving out mourners who were forced to return with the bodies of their loved ones.
They demanded that the county government of Nairobi address their concerns immediately, failure to which they will not allow the public into the facility.
Lang’ata Workers Express Other Grievances
Other grievances expressed by the workers included poor working conditions at the cemetery. They added that they met with Sakaja a week ago, but he did not address their concerns.
Further, they demanded that the county government improve their working conditions by providing them with the necessary tools for work.
The tools, according to the cemetery workers, will help them go about their duties safely.
“We have been cleaning these premises without gloves or gumboots. We don’t do any other jobs because of how intensive this one is. We are more than 60 in number and Sakaja is hurting us,” one of the protestors stated.
Also Read: Lang’ata Cemetery Clean Up
Demands to Governor Johnson Sakaja
Moreover, the protesters called on Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, asking him to stop making false promises to the county employees who were tired of waiting on his promises.
“The county government has been making false promises. We want them to resolve this matter as soon as possible so that these families are able to bury their loved ones.
“They are already grieving, and this situation is only adding to their distress. We are not opening the gates until the matter is resolved,” one of the protesters said.
Also Read: Sakaja Ranked Among Worst Performing Governors
Langata Cemetry History
Langata Cemetery was established in 1958 and has been serving as a burial site place for more than 100,000 Kenyans.
The facility has, however, faced many challenges in the past including running low on burial space, cases of robbery and vandalism of graves.
