Fazul Mahamed, the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) Director General, has been at the center of a heated conflict with the long-standing Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli.
This ongoing feud has thrust Mahamed into the spotlight, as he seeks to challenge Atwoli’s influential position within the labor movement.
Atwoli, who has held the COTU leadership role for over two decades, has accused Mahamed of attempting to undermine his authority and influence within the organization.
Mahamed, on the other hand, has been vocal in his criticism of Atwoli’s leadership, alleging that the COTU boss has been using his position to amass personal wealth and influence, while also being too closely aligned with the political establishment.
Fazal Mahamed’s career
Before assuming the current roles PRSA CEO, he held positions as the CEO of the NGOs Coordination Board and the National Director of the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
However, Mahamed’s career has been marked by a series of controversies as highlighted in the Ombudsman report.
During his time at the National NGOs Co-ordination Board, he was accused of improperly revoking the licenses of certain NGOs, in a move interpreted in some quarters as an attempt to silence government critics.
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Questions were also raised about his financial management and dealings while leading the regulatory body, as well as doubts regarding his qualifications and experience for the senior roles he held.
In 2016, Fazul was at the center of scrutiny from the EACC and the Office of the Ombudsman which reportedly declared him unqualified for public office having allegedly falsified a degree from Egerton University.
Mahamed resigned in 2018 from his position as Executive Director of the National NGOs Coordination Board following a court setback that prevented the renewal of his contract.
Despite these setbacks, Mahamed has demonstrated a history of leadership in regulatory bodies and organizations in Kenya.
Fazul & Atwoli’s conflict
The conflict between Mahamed and Atwoli has escalated in recent months, with Atwoli calling for Mahamed’s resignation and prosecution over claims of forging his academic credentials to secure government employment.
This follows a directive by the PSRA boss urging private security companies to stop deducting and remitting security officers’ fees to COTU.
This, according to Fazul, was due to the union’s failure to advocate for the rights of private security officers despite receiving monthly contributions from them.
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In response, Atwoli has accused Mahamed of 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).
This move has further strained the relationship between the two labor leaders.
The outcome of this high-profile clash could have significant implications for the future leadership and direction of COTU, as well as the welfare of the private security industry.
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