The Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu) has raised concerns and accused the Office of the Deputy President of pushing the union to name the political party it will back in the 2017 Election. The umbrella trade union said DP William Ruto’s office was harassing heads of its affiliate parties in a bid to know who the workers’ body would front.
According to the Union, DP William Ruto’s office was constantly demanding from the heads of all its affiliate parties to come clear on whom they workers’s body would support.in a bid to know who the workers’ body would front.
COTU assistant Secretary General Ernest Nadome said Mr Ruto’s office was illegally engaging officials of Cotu affiliated trade unions “with the aim of discrediting its top brass” and to split the labour movement.
“We want to tell the DP’s office that we should not be pushed to declare a political party that we are going to support” he said. “We have always remained neutral but if the Jubilee Government does not style up to improve the situation in this country, we will have no option but to declare our political affiliation.”
“We have always remained neutral but if the Jubilee Government does not style up to improve the situation in this country, we will have no option but to declare our political affiliation.” Mr Nadome spoke during a press briefing in Kisumu Friday on behalf of Mr Atwoli.
“The trade union movement world over is perceived to be free and independent of both government and employers.”
“Cotu Kenya wishes to caution and equally appeal to the government to engage our affiliate unions with respect to laid down procedures ,” said Nadome, Cotu’s assistant secretary general.