Atwoli threatens legal action against sacking governors

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) boss Francis Atwoli has threatened to move to court to stop governors from sacking county staff perceived to have backed their opponents in the just-ended general election.

In a statement to newsrooms, the COTU secretary general has termed such threats as unfortunate, unlawful and unacceptable and violates labor laws and ratified International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.

“This move out rightly contravenes our own statutes including our Constitution, the five sets of our labour laws as well as the relevant  ILO conventions ratified and domesticated by the government and now part of our laws,” reads the statement in part.

Atwoli now warns that such acts by incoming governors will set a bad precedent and will force county workers to serve at the pleasure of an individual with no security of tenure and respect for the law.

The COTU boss said each county employee should be judged by how they execute their mandate, warning the union will challenge such actions against county workers in court.

“We will use all available means including the courts to get justice for innocent employees,” the statement reads.