Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has urged Kenyan workers to ignore Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Protests scheduled for Tuesday, May 2.
While speaking on Monday, May 1 during the labour day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, Atwoli stated that the trade union will not defend any employee who faces dismissal for missing work on grounds that they were protesting.
He further added that Kenyan workers have nothing to gain from demonstrations.
“They (opposition leaders) have said tomorrow is protest day, but workers, let us not participate. We are salaried people, you miss work and you are fired and things can get worse. We cannot defend anyone on the basis that they were demonstrating,” said the COTU boss.
Atwoli argued that Kenyans gain nothing from demonstrations, adding that employers and their workers need to support the head of state to increase economic growth.
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Nonetheless, Atwoli’s remarks comes a day after opposition leader Raila Odinga insisted that the planned Azimio protests will still take place in Nairobi despite the ban by Nairobi regional police commander.
In a statement, Raila Odinga said they are exercising their constitutional right to assemble, demonstrate, picket, and present petitions to public authorities peaceably and unarmed.
He further noted that they shall on Tuesday, May 2 present petitions to four government offices as part of their efforts to pressure President William Ruto’s administration to heed their demands.