Row over control of Labour Day now blows up

By Faith Ronoh

Nairobi, Kenya: Rivalry continued to rage between two trade unions over control of the annual Labour Day celebrations set for May 1.

The Public Servants Trade Unions of Kenya (Pusetu) and the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) have been locked in a supremacy battle with each maintaining that they will moderate and oversee the celebrations.

However, Pusetu Chairman Tom Odege Thursday said the Labour Ministry should take charge of the event to avoid further complications.

“We are ready for the day and we want workers to be represented in the best way possible because it is their day. We also have the Ministry of Labour, which will take charge of the event. The Government will actually take over all the programmes,” Odege said.

State dismissed

Cotu recently maintained that it will host the event like it has done in the past, dismissing government’s proposal to have the two unions to work together. “If we are forced against the wall, we will resist and call out our members who number close to two million,” Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli said.

Odege who is also the Union of Kenya Civil Servants secretary general pointed out that Cotu is part and parcel of the day and should avoid monopolising the event.

The Pusetu chair said they would invite their representatives to attend the event while Cotu is also free to do the same.

He called on the Government to provide adequate security during the event to avoid “any kind of negativity from outside.” “I believe the Government will provide adequate security although we will not reduce ourselves to violence,” he said.

Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi has since formed a joint steering committee that will bring the unions together in spearheading the event.