COTU Issues Strike Notice Over Atwoli Sacking

The workers' umbrella body says the strike will start on the 4th August 2014 if key demands including the removal of Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi is not adhered to.

The strike notice was addressed to the Cabinet Secretary and the Government of Kenya.

In a statement read by the Secretary General of the Kenya Electrical Trade and Allied Workers Union (KETAWU) Ernest Nadome, the trade unionists say the strike will take effect if a raft of seven fresh demands are not met.

Key among the demands is the re-instatement of Francis Atwoli to the NSSF Board and the removal of Kazungu Kambi from the position of Cabinet Secretary on grounds of incompetence.

Other demands include immediate adjustment of the current minimum wage as promised on Labour Day and the de-gazettment of Cornelius Ogutu from the NSSF Board of Trustees saying he should not be allowed to represent COTU.

This comes just two days after the Industrial Court suspended Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi's directive retiring COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli and the Federation of Kenya Employers CEO Jacqueline Mugo.

Industrial Court judge Monica Mbaru issued the suspension just hours after a meeting between CS and COTU flopped.

CS Kambi had retired FKE’S Chief Executive officer Jacqueline Mugo and COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli from NSSF board of trustees last week on grounds that Atwoli has served in the NSSF Board of Trustees for 15 years and Mugo 11 which he said was contrary to the new NSSF Act that sets a maximum of two to three-year terms each.

By Wangui Ngechu