Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli on Wednesday, May 1, revealed that he had not extended an invitation to Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) officials for the Labour Day celebrations.
Atwoli was responding after PSRA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Fazul Mahamed stating that he had been invited to the celebrations and declined.
Fazul in his statement had remarked that he would not associate with COTU until the billions collected from private security guards were audited.
“COTU is the subject of an active forensic investigation on the collection and use of Ksh1.7 billion that has over the years been deducted from private security guards and remitted to COTU, therefore, as an Authority we are conflicted and must with a clear conscience decline your invitation,” Fazul in the letter had noted.
In a rejoinder, COTU stated that PSRA was a regulator and not a trade union and as such could not be invited to the event.
“COTU (K), has no business with a regulator because we do not get our membership from any regulator. The membership of COTU (K) is derived from Unions and not any regulator,” the rejoinder read in part.
“COTU (K) has not, and cannot, invite PSRA considering we have no business with such an amorphous entity.”
Atwoli further alleged that the PSRA boss should be investigated for having questionable academic papers.
The trade unionist further alleged that Fazul had forged the invite for the Labour Day celebrations.
Atwoli and Fazul have been in a bitter exchange of words due to deductions private security guards remit to the union.
In his view, Fazul has maintained that COTU is not fighting for the plight of Kenyan workers and as such there is no need for continued deductions.
In defence, Atwoli has alleged that Fazul is aiming for a new job within the trade union.
