Mutua urges govt to address long-standing grievances of KCC workers
By Kenneth Mwenda, September 23, 2025Alfred Mutua, the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Welfare, on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, appeared before the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare where he addressed the longstanding grievances of former Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) employees.
He was accompanied by his colleague, Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, who heads the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development.
Former employees of Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) have faced decades of uncertainty over unpaid dues. These include terminal benefits and contributions to Maziwa Sacco, amounting to more than Ksh200 million. Despite repeated efforts to secure their entitlements, many former workers continue to struggle, with some having lost their lives while pursuing justice.
Mutua explained that the Ministry’s mandate is to resolve labour complaints and disputes between current employees and their employers. However, since KCC Ltd was wound up and no longer exists, the matter technically falls outside the Ministry’s jurisdiction. Despite this, he expressed sympathy for the former workers and urged the government to find a solution.
“It is my hope that government will, in good faith, explore ways to honour its word and address the long-standing grievances of these former workers,” he said.
Former KCC staff protest
This development follows earlier actions by the former KCC staff. In December 2024, they threatened to march to State House in Nairobi to seek the personal intervention of President William Ruto.
Led by Raphael Akola Nambisia, the former Vice Chairman of KCC workers, the employees highlighted their frustration and anger over delays in processing their dues. They argued that after approaching multiple government offices, only the President could help them obtain justice.
Nambisia revealed that more than 50 former employees had died over the past decade due to stress and other health issues caused by their struggle for unpaid dues. Many survivors remain unable to support their families, despite having worked for KCC for decades. He also criticised the National Treasury for allegedly obstructing the payment process, citing a ruling by three Court of Appeal judges that had recognised their entitlement.
The Treasury, in a letter dated October 8, 2024, explained that the former employees’ contracts were terminated while KCC was under private ownership. The Ministry argued that it had complied with the provisions of the Transfer of Business Act, and therefore, the government had no legal obligation to pay the outstanding dues.