Anthony Mwangi and Reuben Mwambingu @PeopleDailyKe
Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) secretary general Francis Atwoli has called for the establishment of what he calls “post-independence” cities to not only decongest Nairobi but also tackle unemployment.
“We have seen in other countries in Africa that this is the trend, we should emulate, Tanzania which has Arusha, Nigeria with Abuja, Morocco with Marrakesh among others,” Atwoli said during Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Park Nairobi yesterday.
He said the establishment of such a city would fit into the Konza project plan and urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to push for its implementation. Other towns neighbouring the city like Kiambu and Machakos should also be enjoined to create a big city to accommodate the rising population, he said.
Atwoli told the government to intervene on the issue of Kenyans working in the Middle East who, he said, worked in deplorable and demeaning conditions.
The trade unionist also urged the government to employ more labour officers to supervise employers who do not adhere to the labour laws. “Your office cannot know the employers who underpay the workers since you do not have soldiers on the ground to inform you. There are very few labour officers in this country.
This needs to be addressed,” Atwoli told the President. The Cotu boss also used the occasion to commend the Jubilee Party for carrying out credible nominations. “I have differed with you on many occasions but on this one I am with you.
The President switched off his phone, Ruto (Deputy President William) was nowhere to be seen, hence the good outcome of their party nominations,” he said, adding that even the two leader’s close friends were trounced.
Atwoli said ODM primaries were the exact opposite. “The party led by my friend Raila Odinga had very disorganised and chaotic nominations. I told my old friend Anyang’ Nyong’o that he was given his certificate in the bush,” he said.
In Mombasa, Cotu Coast branch criticised the region’s leaders for “deliberately boycotting the Labour Day celebrations, saying it demonstrated their insensitivity to workers’ plight.
Addressing a poorly-attended Labour Day function at the Tononoka Grounds, Cotu regional secretary general Gideon Mutiso said the absence of the Governor and MPs of all the six constituencies in Mombasa was a clear indication that local leaders have “no agenda for workers in the region.”
“I am very disappointed because none of our MPs has attended this event. We did our part by inviting them but they have chosen not to attend. This clearly shows they have got no agenda for workers in this county,” said the secretary general.
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