Atwoli responds after workers were ordered to cease monthly contributions!

Francis Atwoli, the Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), has commented on the recent action by the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PRSA).

The PRSA directed all private security firms to cease deducting and forwarding monthly trade union fees from security guards to COTU.

Atwoli, in a statement released on Tuesday, April 16, expressed that PRSA CEO Fazul Mohamed’s directive was anticipated by COTU and not unexpected.

“The Central Organization of Trade Unions, COTU (K) takes note of the frivolous letter by the disillusioned Private Security Regulatory Authority CEO, Fazul Mahamed, which purported to call for immediate cession deduction and remittance of Union dues, from Private Security Workers to COTU (K). The letter from Fazul Mahamed does not come as a surprise to COTU (K),” read the statement in part.

Atwoli emphasized that COTU operates independently of government regulation, highlighting that directives akin to those issued by PRSA should only be made either by the union members themselves or by the respective union bodies.

“Without a doubt, the path Fazul has taken can only come to a tragic end following his Hyena-like Dilemma. It must be remembered that COTU (K) is a free and Independent Trade Union that is neither regulated by PSRA nor any other Government Agency,” Atwoli stated. 

The COTU leader highlighted that the union dues received from Private Security Workers stem from a Gazette Notice issued by the Ministry of Labour on September 2, 2016.

“It must also be remembered that COTU (K) Secretary General, Dr. Francis Atwoli, has been the leading champion of the rights and welfare of Private Security Workers in Kenya which has seen the KNPSWU not only formed but also represented in the COTU (K) Executive Board,” Atwoli added. More