Five months down the line, singers who entertained Kenyans as the nation anxiously waited for August 9 polls presidential results at Bomas of Kenya say they are yet to be paid.
The group of singers were under veteran artist and composer, Mwalimu Thomas Wasonga, who was reportedly asked by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) to provide entertainment to Kenyans on that day.
Bomas choirs were a group of five different singers drawn from Kenya and one from Tanzania include Safari Voices, NHIF, Ninga Melodies, Wazalendo Choir and Mungano Choir.
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They had spent close to a week at Bomas, singing patriotic songs to ease growing tensions among Kenyans at the time.
Some of the members say they had been promised to receive their payments six weeks after the presidential results announcement.
"The choir was one of the service providers at Bomas of Kenya. We were brought in to provide services just like the rest who were contracted to make the process smooth. So we were supposed to be paid like the rest," Victor Onyango, a lead singer in one of the choirs told local publication.
Adding:
"Our able leader Mwalimu Wasonga said the money would come in six weeks. It is now six months and we are yet to see the money. We really don't want to blame Mwalimu for this delay, but someone should act. We have families who saw us every day on TV working yet we went home with nothing."
Onyango noted that a bigger percentage of the affected singers do it for a living and the delayed payment has therefore had a negative impact to them and their families.
"I can assure you that most people in that choir you saw there don't do anything apart from singing. It is their livelihood. Withholding their pay means thay are greatly affected. They have families, children are resuming school," Onyango lamented.
Speaking to Citizen, Mwalimu Wasonga who was the coordinator of the choir claimed the delay is as result of regime change.
"Those complaining should understand that regime change comes with a lot of changes. Things no longer work the same way. The new government is organising itself and when it is ready the money will be available, hopefully," Mwalimu Wasonga said.
He however shared hope that IEBC will be working on the delayed payments.
"Let choir members remain calm as I will be following up with the matter when I return to Nairobi from upcountry next week," he added.
