Drop calls for planned strike and give dialogue a chance, Francis Atwoli told

Kenya: A Senate committee has urged the Central Organisation of Trade Union (Cotu) to call off its planned strike over its differences with Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi and first allow Parliament's mediation process.

The Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, which has invited the workers union officials, Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) and Kambi for a meeting next week to resolve the dispute called on Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli to first call off the industrial action and give dialogue a chance.

Cotu has threatened to call a nationwide strike of its members on August 4, if its demands, which includes the sacking of Kambi, are not met.

Cotu and FKE fell out with the Cabinet Secretary after he claimed to have retired Atwoli and FKE boss Jacquiline Mugo from the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Board, a move the two bodies have protested.

But the Senate committee yesterday said it would be wrong for Cotu to proceed with their strike threats when there are genuine efforts being made to mediate the two parties, including the parliamentary process.

Committee chairman Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo said his team had asked Cotu officials, their FKE counterparts and Kambi to appear before them on August 5 and 6.

"We have asked all the stakeholders to appear before us and we want to appeal to them to ensure the interest of the nation is maintained, thus avoid the industrial action," Madzayo said. Committee vice chair nominated Senator Martha Wangari said the committee was an impartial arbiter in the dispute, saying all parties would be given equal chances to defend themselves before the committee.

Former Labour Minister and Turkana Senator John Munyes urged Kambi to find a way of engaging all the stakeholders in the trade industry to end the stalemate, calling on Cotu to put the strike on halt until August 7.