Pusetu is ‘a ploy to’ weaken Cotu

By ROBERT KIPLAGAT

Kenya: Workers unions in Nakuru County have claimed that the recently formed Public Service Trade Unions (Pusetu) is a scheme to oust the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) after Francis Atwoli exposed corruption at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

The unions allied to Cotu who held a procession in Nakuru said Pusetu was formed by the Jubilee Government to counter the efforts by Cotu to guard the workers’ money in schemes such as NSSF and National Hospital Insurance Fund.

“The sharks in corruption cartels are present in Pusetu. The timing of its launch when Cotu secretary general raised scandal issues in NSSF confirms why Pusetu was formed,” the union said in a statement.

The trade unionists claimed that the formation of Pusetu and its demands to be represented in various State corporations was a calculated move to oust Cotu Secretary Francis Atwoli.  According to Thomas Kemboi, the Deputy Secretary General of KePAWU, Pusetu the presence of ‘the Government,’ including Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi and Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru raised eyebrows.