The Central Organisation of Trade Unions has rejected former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's call for a rival labour body. COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli said the proposal showed a lack of understanding of Kenya's labour history.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, May 6, Atwoli dismissed Gachagua's suggestion as an attempt to create "political kiosks" for personal interests. He emphasised that trade unions are legally established institutions with decades of history and international recognition, representing millions of Kenyan workers.
Atwoli warned that such moves would not destabilise the labour movement. "COTU is a legally established national labour centre with deep historical roots, international recognition, and millions of workers under its affiliated unions and no amount of political bitterness or tribal incitement from Mr. Gachagua will destabilise the Kenyan labour movement," he stated.
The exchange follows Gachagua's remarks at a workers' forum in Nairobi on Tuesday, May 5. There, the DCP Party leader accused Atwoli of prioritising government interests over workers and called for an alternative organisation to give employees more choice. The statements come as COTU and the Federation of Kenya Employers continue to disagree over a 12 per cent wage increment announced by President William Ruto on May 1.