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The Ombudsman Commission received a complaint in July 2021 alleging non-payment of overtime allowances for three (3) years. The complainant was engaged by a certain government department as a casual security guard.

The security guard alleged that despite working regular overtime hours from 2014 to 2016, he was never paid his corresponding allowances. The security guard made frequent follow-ups at the government office however, he was consistently told that there were no funds available to pay his outstanding allowances.

Having felt that he had exhausted all avenues, the security guard approached the Ombudsman Commission and lodged a complaint against the responsible government department.

The Commission commenced an investigation and escalated the security guard’s matter with the responsible government department. From 2021 to 2023, the Commission continued to liaise with the administrative section of the responsible government.

Finally, in November 2023, a cheque in the amount of K22,863.04 was issued to the security guard as payment for his outstanding overtime allowances.

The security guard confirmed receiving the payment and expressed gratitude to the Commission for its assistance in resolving the matter. In a letter dated 23 November 2023 to the Commission, the security guard wrote:

…“I would like to thank the Ombudsman Commission for assisting me in following up on my outstanding claim of K22,863.04 for providing security services to named government department.

I was not paid my allowances for being engaged as a Casual Security Guard by the named government department from 2014 to 2016. I followed up on the matter so many times with the named government department but I did not get any favorable response. I had no hope of getting paid until I saw the Ombudsman Commission and then I was paid.

I thank the Commission for the good work it is doing in the named region and I believe that if it was not for the Commission stepping in I would not be paid my outstanding claim.   

Thank you

Complainant