BOGORIA, KENYA: Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) Executive Board have voted to oust its Deputy Secretary General George Muchai and replaced him with Benson Okwiri Okumu in an acting capacity.
In a meeting held at Lake Bogoria Resort, 26 members of the executive board unanimously voted to remove Muchai who is also Kabete MP a day after allegation of irregularities surfaced in the press.
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli said the board suspended his deputy after he acted contrary to COTU constitution and chose serve partisan political interests.
"The Executive Board voted to suspend with immediate effect from office Hon George Mukuru Muchai for breach of COTU constitution by acting contrary to requirement of his office," he said.
Muchai, who on Sunday revealed a plot to oust him as Atwoli's deputy, is allegedly accused of working in the behest of Labour cabinet secretary Kambi Kazungu.
Atwoli said Muchai was also ousted for allegedly giving false information to CID officers including falsification of documents aimed at incriminating Atwoli and other COTU officials.
The Board also accused Muchai of usurping and undermining the office of COTU secretary general.
In what is seen as the biggest fallout in the umbrella trade union, Atwoli rebuffed claims of irregularities and asked Muchai to forward any evidence before the police and anti-corruption officials for investigations.
"If he (Muchai) has any credible evidence he is free to report to any police station, Ethics and anti-corruption officers for investigation. I want to tell him it's dangerous to betray colleagues you were elected with," he said.
He added that Muchai while he was the Deputy Secretary General was in charge of Human resource which is behind the hiring of COTU staff.
The Board also voted Ernest Nakenya Nadome to take up position of Assistant secretary general in an acting capacity and Nelson Kiromo Mwaniki as 3rd trustee of COTU.
According to the COTU Secretary General, Muchai was invited for the Executive Board meeting but chose to snub the meeting which discussed his conduct and voted to remove him from office.
"He was aware of the Executive Board meeting after he was notified in person and through all official channels from COTU," Atwoli added.
Meanwhile, COTU Executive Board has voted to approve new National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) rates that will see lowest and highest workers contribute Sh150 and Sh1700 respectively. This follows a meeting between NHIF management and COTU held in Mombasa last month.
"The Executive board unanimously voted in support of new NHIF rates that will see lowers and highest contribution to NHIF to be Sh150 and 1700 respectively," he said.
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The resolution on the new NHIF rates by COTU now gives a leeway to Ministry of Health and NHIF to gazette the new deductions and commencement date.
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