Kisii County staff lament lack of office essentials, tissue papers
Rolls of tissue paper. Courtesy photo
County staff in Kisii are a bothered lot over what they allege is the lack of basic office supplies among them printing papers and toiletries.
According to the employees, there are no toiletries at the ablutions--with no signs they would be brought in soon.
"Some of us are forced to carry tissue from home because the washrooms don't have one ," said a female staffer.
Those who spoke to journalists requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
With no stationary, secretaries now huddle at the front desks sharing banter as they await the exit hour.
I work in an office requiring constant use of papers. With no fresh supplies in months, we just come and idle in the offices and go home. There is nothing going on," she stated.
"I sighted the last foolscap in March, as you can see we have no toners for printers connected to the computers," she said.
Even as they lamented, more others spoke of the possibility of heading home for Christmas without pay.
They have gone without pay for over two(2) months, they alleged.
On Wednesday last week, they said they were mulling a strike to pressure Governor Simba Arati to pay them their dues.
Our efforts to get the response from administration proved futile.
So dire is the situation, angry staff said, that most work stations are now reporting dismal turnout of staff due to lack of fare.
"This is the second month I'm reporting to duty without salary. Back in my house, all essential commodities including sugar, salt, and maize flour have run out," a female staff member lamented.
The situation gets embarrassing with school children now back home for the December recess.
"This morning my grade four girl asked me why we are not buying sugar and bread each morning as we used to. You would want the earth to swallow you to forget when things get this bad," said another female worker.
A male staff said their spouses had begun to pester them asking them where they were taking their money.
"Recently my wife came fuming and bursting on me, accusing me of squandering all my money on prostitutes. No amount of explanations were making sense anymore," stated Tom*, not his really name.
Without salaries, chances of holding a Christmas celebration for their families were slim, he added .
"Imagine a whole government worker who cannot afford unga for chapati at home for his family! Shameful," he rued.
