Looming clash as Pusetu vows to attend Labour Day celebrations

By James Mbaka and Rawlings Otieno

Nairobi, Kenya: A major clash looms large between members of two rival trade unions in today’s Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Park.

Stakes were high Wednesday evening when the newly launched labour centre, Public Servants Trade Unions of Kenya (Pusetu), seemed to have defied a court order barring its members from attending today’s fete organised by its rival, Central Organisation of Trade Union (Cotu).

The rivalry between Cotu and Pusetu could play out at the celebrations in front of Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi, who has been caught in the crossfire as the two unions engage in supremacy battles.

Pusetu in a press briefing vowed to march through the streets of Nairobi to Uhuru Park in what could spark heavy confrontation with the security officers expected to be on high alert around the historic grounds on recommendation of Cotu.

The Standard learnt that Cotu had security briefs from the police and that they are likely to screen attendants at today’s ceremony including flashing out members of Pusetu who could disrupt the event.

Pusetu maintained that it has the majority representation and would attend the celebration, which has largely been a preserve of Cotu.

“Pusetu represents over 600,000 members we do not see how 163,000 members allied to Cotu would prevent us from joining the fete,” said Pusetu Secretary General Charles Mukhwana.

The trade union urged all its members to observe peace and be obedient in accordance with the law while celebrating the day.