Francis Atwoli, the Secretary General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) in Kenya has reached out to Azimio leader Raila Odinga to put an end to the ongoing mass demonstrations.
During campaigning in last year’s election he publicly endorsed Raila Odinga – however he believes the protests will ultimately hurt people. He told Newsday: “We are worried now with continued demonstrations. I was part of the Azimio brigade. The leader of the opposition in Kenya is my own relative so I have been trying to reach out to him, telling him that the people who will suffer most are workers, women and children.”
In the matter of working class people that are protesting, the COTU boss explained that the struggle was international with the cost of living and higher taxation crisis being pervasive all across the globe, so Kenyans should cope for the time being.
However, he called on the government to be open and sincere as to how the taxes collected are utilized. This in turn, according to him, provides accountability of the regime as well as value for Kenyans in terms of adequate quality of life.
On Monday, July 17th 2023, he I joined the Chief Justice Martha in the official opening of the Employment and Labour Relations Court Annual Symposium & Exhibition. COTU was invited to participate in the symposium as well as also make contributions to the “place of employment and labour relations court in promoting social justice and economic prosperity.”
He pledged that COTU (K) would continue supporting the independence and the work of the court considering the constitutional mandate to protect and promote workers welfare.