Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) secretary general Francis Atwoli is expected to announce his retirement after President William Ruto intervened in the scuffle between him and Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) chair Fazul Mohammed.
Sources say the President reportedly talked to both Atwoli and Fazul asking them not to spoil the mood of tomorrow’s Labour Day Celebrations because of their dispute which has been getting uglier by the day.
Fazul has been insisting that Atwoli’s time at the helm of COTU is up. He had has even threatened to stop monthly contributions made by private security guards from hitting ending up at the trade union led by Atwoli.
Atwoli on the other hand has said that he is going nowhere only that this time he doesn’t seem to have the backing of the opposition after he dumped them and endorsed Ruto who has no time for him either.
“He asked to be allowed to retire honourably within the next one year. We hope he will stick to his word because he has no wriggling space or support,” said a source who is aware of the negotiations.
After exchanging words on the internet and on the media for weeks, matters between Atwoli and Fazul would have turned ugly on Labour Day after a rival trade union suddenly announced over the weekend that it would hold parallel celebrations.
Last Saturday, the relatively unknown Trade Unions Congress of Kenya (TUCO) revealed plans to hold its celebrations at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) Grounds on May 1.
COTU has already set its sights on the Uhuru Gardens in Lang’ata Nairobi for its celebrations, also scheduled for the same day and time. Both factions extended invitations to President William Ruto to grace their respective occasions.
TUCO, associated with Charles Mukhwaya, the Secretary General of the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU), has a longstanding rivalry with COTU-K. This feud traces back to former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s first term, when then Labor Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi established TUCO in a bid to oust COTU-K Secretary General Francis Atwoli from office.
In a letter dated April 24, TUCO extended an invitation to all union officials and members to attend the 59th Labor Day celebrations at KICC on May 1.
“We are pleased to invite you to the 59th Labor Day celebration, scheduled to take place at the KICC on May 1, 2024, at 9:00 am. This year’s event promises to be extraordinary as we recognize and honor the hard work and dedication of workers in our nation,” read part of the letter penned by TUCO’s convener and Rigoma Ward MCA, Nyambega Gisesa.
According to sources, The Protective and Safety Association of Kenya (PROSAK) and the Protective Security Industry Association (PSIA) were expected to announce withdrawal of their members from COTU at the event organised by TUCO.
PROSAK and PSIA represent private security workers and are the biggest associations within COTU. Since February Fazul and Atwoli have been fighting over the remittances made by private security guards to COTU.
It is said that the planned parallel Labour Day celebrations that were to be held by TUCO had the blessings of Fazul who had been yearning to take the fight to Atwoli after weeks of shadow boxing behind leaked letters and the media.
TUCO has since suspended their planned event after President Ruto’s intervention.
Last Sunday Atwoli attempted to rekindle his association with the opposition in exchange for their support in his war against government forces who seem to have made a decision that his time is up and will stop at nothing.
Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka warned Atwoli to be wary of his relationship with the government
“I’m sorry to advise you; you are dealing with people who will say one thing and you believe them but they stab you in the back. Be careful,” said Kalonzo.
“Don’t destroy our labour movement, don’t destroy our civil service because if you destroy the civil service then you have no country. Don’t destroy our health sector. Don’t threaten our doctors with sacking,” he said.
At the same event, Atwoli criticised those calling for his exit from the COTU helm after 23 years in service, saying his job as a trade unionist is a “calling”.
“Some people after taking alcohol start saying I have overstayed (in office), this is a calling. Our job is like that of a provost,” the Cotu boss said.
He went on: “I don’t want to talk too much because Wednesday will be our day and we shall address all issues affecting us and those we want government to assist us tackle.”
