You’ll be on your own, Atwoli cautions workers

July 4, 2014By People Team

Cotu secretary general addresses journalists at a previous press conference. He has warned workers against heeding Cord’s declaration of Monday as a public holiday. 

Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli has said the union will not defend workers who will skip duty on Monday as proposed by Cord. “No worker should risk missing to turn up for work on Monday. Cotu will not defend them should they be sacked,” he said. Atwoli, who spoke at a press conference in Nairobi, said ”workers who’ll be dismissed for absconding duty because of the Saba Saba rally will fight it out on their own.”

“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 for absconding duty,” said Atwoli. Atwoli said he has received complaints from some workers in flower farms in Naivasha, who he said are fleeing the area for fear of being attacked.

The Cotu boss, however, said he has received assurance from the Inspector General David Kimaiyo that security has been beefed up in Naivasha and the workers are safe to continue with their work. Political wars Atwoli said Jubilee and Cord politicians should not drag workers into their political wars as workers belong to both groups. “Our leaders have failed Kenyans by refusing to engage in dialogue and the issue has been amplified causing unnecessary tension,” Atwoli said.

In Naivasha, security officers, religious leaders and youths groups have moved in to defuse rising tension by assuring those fleeing that the town of their security. The leaders moved to the main Naivasha bus terminus to assure fleeing families of their safety with many committing themselves to promoting peace and co-existence among different communities living in the town.

Meanwhile, the National Council of NGOs has distanced itself from Monday’s Saba Saba rally, saying it is uncalled for and could trigger chaos. Chief executive officer Kevinnah Loyatum said the council’s members have been asked to promote peace, adding that calls for national dialogue has been a poor approach by the Opposition. Peter Kubebeya, a director in the council, said tKenya’s problems “are socio-economic not political.”