Cotu’s big test as rival body formed
What you need to know:
- Knut secretary-general Wilson Sossion and his DWU counterpart, Mr Simon Sang ,said the new outfit had the government’s backing and would replace Cotu.
- The move will be seen as bid to clip Mr Atwoli’s wings following his run-ins with Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi, who is said to be backing the new body.
- Others said to be supporting the new union include Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS), Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (Kuppet), Universities Staff Union (Untesu), Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu).
Seven trade unions have announced plans to form another umbrella labour organisation for all trade unions.
If the plan succeeds, then it will be a big blow to the Francis Atwoli-led Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu).
Architects of the bid, who spoke in Kwale County on Sunday, said the plan was to transform the Public Service Trade Unions of Kenya (Pusetu) into the new umbrella body.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Dock Workers Union (DWU) officials said the new body to be named Trade Union Congress of Kenya (TUC-K) would be launched on November 23, in Nairobi.
Knut secretary-general Wilson Sossion and his DWU counterpart, Mr Simon Sang ,said the new outfit had the government’s backing and would replace Cotu.
“The plan is to transform Pusetu into a national labour centre, which we believe will mark the beginning of a new era in the labour movement in Kenya,” Mr Sossion said.
CLIP MR ATWOLI'S WINGS
The move will be seen as bid to clip Mr Atwoli’s wings following his run-ins with Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi, who is said to be backing the new body.
Others said to be supporting the new union include Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS), Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (Kuppet), Universities Staff Union (Untesu), Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu).
“We will be starting with approximately 650,000 members if the meeting we held recently, bringing together six unions is anything to go by,” said Mr Sang.
Other unions said to have signed a statement endorsing the formation of the new body are Dr Charles Mukhwaya (Untesu), Prof Muga Kolale (Uasu), Prof Sammy Kubasu (Uasu), Mr Tom Odege (UKCS) and Mr James Makori (Kusu).
The County Government Union led by Mr Ruba Duba and suspended Cotu deputy secretary-general Mr George Muchai is said to be planning to join the new organisation.
Mr Muchai was recently kicked out of Cotu after falling out with Mr Atwoli over the ongoing investigations into the operations of the organisation.
The investigations ordered by Mr Kambi are said to centre on the sale of a piece of land in Mombasa and purchase of a vehicle given to the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu.
Mr Atwoli accused Mr Muchai of working with Mr Kambi before kicking him out of Cotu.
