More than 500 workers at the Olkaria IV Power Plant in Naivasha yesterday went on strike over low wages and poor working conditions. The strike paralysed the construction of the 280mw geothermal plant commissioned by President Kibaki last July.

The workers who are contracted to the Hadish Company downed their tools saying their salaries are too low. A worker complained that they are paid Sh330 daily compared to the more than Sh2,000 paid to their foreign colleagues.

"We want the company to increase our daily pay to Sh500 because we are doing the donkey work as foreign workers loiter around," he said. The employee accused Hadish managers of mistreating and sacking them arbitrarily. Security was heightened over fears that the striking workers may destroy already completed sections of the project.