COTU urges workers to stay at workstations, says Saba Saba rally will be peaceful

By Immaculate Akello

Thursday, July 3rd 2014

NAIROBI, KENYA: Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli, has raised alarm over anxiety generated by saba saba rally noting it’s impact already affecting workflow in some areas.

Addressing the press in Nairobi on Thursday, Atwoli claimed that employees of flower farms in the volatile Naivasha are fleeing the plantations  for fear of violence that may arise during the Saba Saba rally.

"The Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo, has assured me that he will provide security throughout the country," said Atwoli.

Atwoli urged the workers to stay at their workstations saying that the sabasaba rally to be held in Nairobi on Monday will be as peaceful as the other recent rallies held by Coalition for Reforms and Democracy(CORD).

He said that, every worker was free to attend the saba saba rally  if it will not affect their work because COTU will not defend or reinstate anyone who will be dismissed from work on grounds that they were attending the rally.

"Every worker can attend the rally if they are off duty or allowed by their employers. Monday has not been officially declared a national holiday  and therefore it will be impossible for COTU to offer legal protection for any worker who will be dismissed on this ground," said Atwoli.

Atwoli asked the government to accommodate the calls for national dialogue saying that it is constitutional adding that the discourse should not  not be exclusively between CORD and Jubilee coalitions.

"The government should be flexible and allow for an all-inclusive dialogue. The dialogue should constitute of representatives from all welfare organizations including lawyers, workers and civil societies," he said.

The COTU official said that there are many issues in the country that need to be addressed and that this cannot be done by only two parties.

"Rampant corruption, inflation, unilateral decision-making are real issues affecting our country and cannot be addressed by only a section of the government. A young economy like ours requires democracy and working together," he said.