Over 60-acres of tea plantation in Nandi hills, Nandi county, was set ablaze by tea workers who protested against the management concerning their 30% salary increment. Security has been tightened at Nandi Hills Kapsumbeiywo tea factory after the incident.
Speaking to West Media, Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Chairman in Nandi Eliakim Ochieng confirmed the incident, saying there was a confrontation between the protestors and the police officers that led to the death of one of the workers, while two others were seriously injured.
Ochieng said the workers were protesting over the disputed 30% salary increment awarded to them by the industrial court which the multi-national companies have appealed against.
The workers want the management to implement the 30% award salary increment that was ordered to be availed on 14th of this month, something the company’s management is against.
The COTU chair explained that workers were demonstrating peacefully before the police intervened and used teargas canisters to disperse them, leading to the death of a worker, the workers then resolved to burn the tea estates.
He said the injured workers are receiving treatment in Nandi Hills Sub County hospital while the body of the deceased was moved to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.
Efforts by the press to get comments from Nandi East police boss T K Macharia proved futile.
