Kenya: All the 1200 permanent employees of the East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) have reported to work, formally ending a two-week strike. The move follows reports of strong-arm tactics forcing employees to work.

It is estimated that the company lost US$9m during the strike period after union members demanded the resignation of two directors: board chairman Mark Karbolo and managing director Kephar Tande. The government had suspended the duo alongside six other board members over alleged mismanagement.

The workers went on strike after the government installed the same directors after a landmark court ruling ordering them to return to office. Following the ruling, Tande and Karbolo were instructed to open up the plant and normalise operations. Staff refused to work under the two top officials.

Tande said all the staff had resumed work and that money would not be deducted from their January salaries for the days they were on strike. "At least we have managed to bring all the staff on board and what remains now is the mammoth task of talking to Maasai elders from Kajiado county who had ordered the closure of all mines for gypsum, limestone and pozzolana that are used to manufacture cement," said Tande. The Maasai elders ordered all the mines closed and gave the government an ultimatum to return the suspended directors whom they claimed had been "victimised unnecessarily."

The return occurs after employees complained that armed police officers had forced them to work at gunpoint. Raising their concerns in court, a representative for some 778 employees told Justice Cecilia Githua that General Service Unit officers were forcibly removing them from their homes and taking them to the plant to work, even at night.