Fazul Mahamed is the former Director General of the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA), a position he held for six years before his tenure ended in July 2024.
Before joining the PSRA, Fazul served as the Chief Executive Officer of the NGO Coordination Board from 2014 to 2018, where he resigned following a court setback that prevented the renewal of his contract.
He also served as the National Director of the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
He is well known for his long-standing public and legal feud with the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli.
Fazul Mahamed Files Petition Challenging the Reelection of Francis Atwoli
Fazul Mahamed, alongside the Institute for Democratic Governance, has filed a petition in court challenging the re-election of the veteran COTU leader, Francis Atwoli, to a sixth straight term.
Also Read: Atwoli’s Son Makes History as First African to be President of World Health Summit
The petitioners allege that the election exercise was conducted in complete violation and disregard for the legally prescribed union election cycle.
Additionally, Fazul Mahamed contends that the poll that gave Atwoli a sixth straight term at the helm of the labour union was flawed and excluded some labour unions.
At the same time, according to court documents, they want the entire exercise declared null and void, to stop the Registrar of Trade Unions from gazetting the results, and to bar all those elected from assuming office.
Atwoli was elected unopposed at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu on Saturday, March 14, in an election attended by hundreds of workers.
Fazul and Atwoli’s Feud
In 2024, Fazul Mahamed, during his stint at PRSA, made headlines for his disagreement with Atwoli over the use of funds deducted from security officers’ salaries nationwide.
He accused Atwoli of failure to advocate for the rights of private security officers despite receiving monthly contributions from them.
Also Read: Meet Five Men Who Served as COTU Bosses Before Atwoli
He emphasized the need for transparency and integrity in managing contributions from private security guards.
However, Atwoli repeatedly dismissed Fazul’s claims, stating that PSRA is a regulator, not a trade union, alleging that Fazul’s actions were motivated by a desire for a new position within the trade union sector.
He added that Fazul Mahamed was meddling in the affairs of the Kenya National Private Security Workers Union (KNPSWU), the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, and the Federation of Kenyan Employers (FKE).
