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Kenya: Atwoli Criticises Multi-National Firms As Kenyans Mark Workers' Day
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The Nation (Nairobi)
2 May 2008
Posted to the web 1 May 2008
Odhiambo Orlale
Nairobi
Multi-national firms, professionals and a leading chain of supermarkets were at the receiving end of Cotu boss on Thursday.
Mr Francis Atwoli named the Law Society of Kenya, an unnamed High court judge, Nairobi Town Clerk John Gakuo, the print media and Nakumatt Limited and accused them of frustrating the workers' movement in the country.
Mr Atwoli, who spoke for a record one hour and 20 minutes, accused employers of trying to frustrate the recently enacted five labour laws which were aimed at enhancing the welfare of workers.
The Cotu boss accused LSK of protecting "ambulance chasers" at the expense of workers' welfare, saying they were opposed to the new labour laws because some of the members were fleecing their clients by colluding with insurance firms.
Mr Atwoli also accused some employers, whom he did not name, of filing cases in court to oppose the new labour laws which include the three-month maternity leave and two week paternity leave for workers.
"We have advocates who are corrupt. I used to think that LSK was there to help the public, but now I realise it is against the common man," the unionist said. He cited the cheques paid to workers by insurance firms as an example.
Mr Atwoli further claimed that he had a list of corrupt judicial officials which he would soon present to the head of State for action.
He claimed that Nakumatt was making over Sh2 billion a month, but was paying its workers a mere Sh4,000 per month.
He also took issue with the firm, which has branches in major cities in the country and another one in Kigali, Rwanda, of refusing to allow its workers to join the trade union movement.
"We went to the Industrial Court over the issue and won the case, but the management took the matter to the High court," the Cotu boss complained.
He did not spare the Nairobi Town Clerk whom he accused of frustrating the unionisable employees under his watch by not addressing their grievances.
The Cotu boss accused the print media of publishing "useless stories" instead of highlighting the achievements of the labour movement on the special day reserved worldwide for workers.
He questioned why veteran trade unionists like Mr Dennis Akumu, and former Butere MP, Mr Martin Shikuku, who attended the fete, were not featured in the media to promote the labour movement's activities in the country.
The unionist said 200 workers were killed in the post election violence, one of them being his shop steward in Naivasha. The Cotu boss claimed that multi-national firms in Kericho had taken advantage of the post election violence to retire workers early. But he insisted that the motive was to replace them with the controversial tea-picking machines.
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Labour minister John Munyes announced that he would implement the controversial labour laws to the letter, saying they were not there to increase the cost of doing business but to make the country more competitive.
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