'Overworked and underpaid': MP Babu Owino demands wage increase for Sakaja’s Green Army

Embakasi East Member of Parliament has hit out at the Nairobi County government for what he terms as underpaying the thousands of youth employed under the ‘Green Army’ programme tasked with menial jobs across the city.

MP Owino, speaking in a video posted to his social media platforms, sought to respond to claims that he had called for the sacking of the youth, terming this as mere propaganda aimed at tarnishing his reputation.

He stated that, matter of factly, the over 3,800 young Nairobians employed by City Hall to generally clean the country's capital are being taken advantage of and not paid their rightful dues.

According to the outspoken legislator, the youthful workers should be paid double what they currently take home, commensurate with the tough tasks that they undertake.

“(The) Green Army is a team that is being underpaid in Nairobi. Most of the money that they should be paid is embezzled at City Hall. The Green Army doe tough jobs from morning to evening, but they’re paid very little money,” he said.

“And so, to the county government of Nairobi, more youth are supposed to be employed in the Green Army, but they should be paid double what they earn now."

Mr. Owino added: "The Governor pays them very little money and some times that money takes too long to reach them because he (Governor) misuses the money. He should not play around with the livelihoods of fellow Kenyans’ children yet they clean sewages. They must be paid handsomely.”