COTU secretary General Francis Atwoli(right) and Deputy secretary General Benson Okwara addressing the press at COTU offices on 19/10/14-BEVERLYNE MUSILI

Nairobi; Kenya: County government workers have refuted claims that they are ditching the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) for another movement.

The Kenya County Governments Workers Union (KCGWU) that brings the more than 100,000 workers together said the reports emanating from some media outlets were erroneous. “We have no intention of leaving the union that has served our members since 1965. The decision to exiting Cotu can only be given a green-light through the national delegates’ conference,” said Mary Murongoro, the chairperson of KCGWU.

According to Ms Murongoro, the instabilities experienced by county government workers as far as their welfare is concerned is a crucial ingredient to making them remain united in Cotu. She, however, challenged the Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli (pictured) to stop sleeping on the job, and instead “fight for the rights of county government workers”. “Mr Atwoli’s voice on the well-being of KCGWU members should now be more audible than ever before.”

Meanwhile, KCGWU says it is still pushing for a sober, law-anchored county government pension scheme for its members. It argues that the recent media battles between Laptrust and Lapfund should come to a stop, and a “rational approach” taken.

“Our members’ pension must not be discussed through media,” said Ms Murongoro. For some time, Lapfund and Laptrust, now referred to as County Pension Fund, have been in bitter exchanges over who should run the county government workers’ pension scheme. The matter is before court.