Today the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare led by the Vice Chair Sen. George Mungai Mbugua visited to the County of Nyamira. The Committee paid a courtesy call to the Office of the Governor, H.E. Amos Nyaribo and Office of the Speaker of Nyamira County Assembly. 

Matters of importance concerning the welfare of workers in Nyamira County were discussed such as the Wage Bill, status of the County compliance to the PWD provisions in the Constitution, the issue of ghost workers in Nyamira County among others. His Excellency the Governor also informed the Committee that the late disbursement of County funds by the Treasury has led to the Government borrowing from banks to pay salaries to County employees and once the money is disbursed, Kenya Revenue Authority takes a large sum of the funds as penalties for late payment for PAYE. The Governor urged Senate to intervene to have funds released by the Treasury in time, since the continued delay is a great danger to the success of Devolution. 

Further, the Committee visited Kipkebe Tea Factory which is now owned by Sasini Limited since 2019. The Committee sought to find out the status of the following issues; the current status of mechanized tea picking which led to decrease in manpower. Lack of social amenities in the residential areas within the tea Estate such as habitable houses,water, proper toilets, electricity etc, and some workers not being allowed to join workers' union. 

The Committee also sought to know the status of PWDs in the factory and status of compliance with the 2/3 gender rule. 

After meeting with the management of the tea factory, representatives of the workers and having visited one of the residential areas, it was agreed that indeed there was a change since acquisition of the tea factory by the new management. The management noted that the changes desired are work in progress and the Committee pledged to keep tabs on the pending matters and the discussed proposed projects to ensure that they are implemented for the welfare of the workers. 

Members of Committee present during the visit were; Sen. Erick Okong'o Mogeni,SC- Nyamira County, Sen. Alexander Mundigi - Embu County and Sen. Crystal Asige .