COTU Urges President to suspend Finance Bill

COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli was interviewed at his Damat home in Kajiado County. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

The umbrella workers union on Wednesday urged President William Ruto not to assent to the Finance Bill.

Central Organization of Trade Unions of Kenya (COTU-K) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, also appealed to President Ruto to appoint a commission of inquiry to address the demands of the youth.

"For now, on behalf of Kenyan workers, we are appealing to His Excellency the President to suspend the finance bill, and to appoint a commission of inquiry to examine the demands of Generation Z, Millennial Young Men, and other Kenyans," Atwoli said.

Speaking on Wednesday, Atwoli said that while parliament had addressed some contentious issues in the bill, further amendments were needed to satisfy the concerns of young Kenyans.

"They were sending an alarm to us, their parents, the government, and everyone responsible, asking us to respond and support them by seeing if those contentious clauses in the finance bill can be removed," he said.

Atwoli expressed deep condolences to the families of young Kenyans who lost their lives during recent demonstrations, acknowledging the legitimacy of their demands.

“I want to take this opportunity to send condolences on behalf of the working men and women of Kenya. It was so tragic; it was not an opportune time for them to lose their lives. Their demands were genuine and deserved to be addressed concerning the finance bill,” Atwoli said.

Condemning the violence that marred the peaceful intentions of the protests, Atwoli said:

"Those people who infiltrated Generation Z and the Millennial Young Men, who were looting and burning offices, did not represent the true intentions of our young men."

Drawing parallels to the turmoil in Sudan, Libya, and Rwanda, Atwoli warned against the dangers of anarchy and emphasized the need to protect Kenya's stability.

"Kenya is a hub of economic activities in this region, and we must protect it at all costs. We must support the President and the government to ensure that this country remains peaceful," he said.

The protests in Kenya over the Finance Bill 2024/2025 have reverberated across the continent, prompting responses from leaders and organizations who emphasize the need for dialogue, accountability, and inclusive governance.

The bill, which passed the second reading last week with 204 Members of Parliament voting in favor and 115 opposing, proceeded to the committee of the whole house on Wednesday.