Cotu: Powerful forces trying to link us to George Muchai's death

Cotu Deputy Secretary General Benson Okwaro

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) has expressed concern over what it calls a bid to incriminate it in the murder of Kabete MP George Muchai.

In a statement to newsrooms, Cotu Deputy Secretary General Benson Okwaro pointed out that there were powerful forces trying to influence the investigations into Muchai's death.

Mr Okwaro said utterances by some leaders who attended the MP's funeral as well as concerns raised by police probing the murder that they were under pressure to incriminate some powerful individuals as reported in the local media were a clear ploy to influence the true outcome of the investigations and deny the country the truth about Muchai's killers.

"It is now evident that this is a scheme by some powerful forces out to settle the differences they have had with Cotu's leadership led by Secretary General Francis Atwoli. The fact that even the police have raised concern about undue influence from certain powerful individuals not to execute their investigations professionally raises deep concerns within Cotu leadership," he added.

Okwaro pointed out that Cotu had no fear and that their conscience was clear, adding they had faith in the Directorate of Criminal Investigations' ability to unravel the truth behind Muchai's death. He asked Kenyans to give the police time to investigate and urged anyone with information on the murder to present it to the authorities.

Arrest Kambi

Elsewhere, the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) has demanded the immediate arrest of Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi over his remarks during Muchai's burial allegedly linking Cotu's top leaders to the murder.

Speaking at a press conference at the KPAWU headquarters in Nakuru yesterday, Deputy Secretary General Joseph Kipkemboi asked Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaiserry to arrest Mr Kambi. He said the CS should be questioned to shed more light on what he knew about the murder.

"If Kambi has evidence, why didn't he record a statement with the police? He should be put behind bars since he appears to know more about the MP's murder," said Mr Kipkemboi.

He said if Kambi was not arrested within seven days, the union would be left with no option but to move to court and file a suit against him over incitement to the public, defamation of Cotu and undermining police investigations.