The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has refuted reports that he called on President William Ruto to fire Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u.
In a statement on Monday, December 11, the COTU Secretary General indicated that the reports were misleading and were taken out of context.
According to Atwoli, his sentiments, while speaking in Kisumu on Saturday, December 9, were not intended to call for the sacking on the treasury CS.
“This is a highly misleading statement. You can’t use a quotation out of context,” Atwoli stated.
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Reports of Atwoli Asking Ruto to Fire the CS
According to various local media reports, Atwoli hit out at CS Ndung’u for saying that the government was broke and could not finance key public expenditure.
In addition, Atwoli noted that Kenyans were already going through tough economic times and that the CS ought to be offering solutions instead of instigating fear.
Also, he highlighted resources he claimed were underutilized including Lake Victoria, which he claimed could bring in billions of shillings if cruise ships were allowed to travel through the area.
“You have asked us to pay for housing levy, where are those houses? You have asked us to pay more taxes, and KRA is on our necks, where is this money going?
“We know we have external debts calculate and let us know if Ndung’u comes out with the repor, not to cry the way he was crying…’this governments is broke, I cannot even be able to pay salaries, we’re struggling,” Atwoli stated.
Additionally, Atwoli noted the if he were the president, he would have sacked the CS.
“If I was (President William) Ruto I will sack him the following day, I will sack him!
“Because he is the kind of mother who would tell her children that she doesn’t know what they will eat (yeye ndio mama, anaambia Watoto eti sasa hii nyumba sijui mtakula nini) you’re instilling fear!” added the COTU SG.
Ndung’u on the Government Being Broke
Earlier, while speaking before the National Assembly’s finance committee last week, the treasury CS revealed that the government was encountering difficulties in collecting revenue.
In addition, he noted that lack of funds had impacted both the NG-CDF’s disbursement and the payment of salaries.
“NG-CDF will be released as soon as government has enough funds, at the moment we are not getting taxes as required and the government is having challenges paying salaries,
“So please bear with us, we are working around the clock to make things work. We are doing everything possible to ensure the disbursement of CDF funds no matter how little we can,” he stated.
