COTU backs referendum to address electoral flaws

COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli (Right) and his deputy Benson Okwaro. He declared that his union will back a proposal to have Parliament amend the Constitution. (Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard)

Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli yesterday declared that his union will back a proposal to have Parliament amend the Constitution to address some hitches in the electoral process.

Addressing workers and affiliate unions at Cotu headquarters in Nairobi, Mr Atwoli said the proposed changes in the law will create more powerful positions in the executive and help save the ailing economy.

“Our position as trade unions is to support the initiative to amend the constitution with a view to addressing the electoral process flaws and creating more political positions within the executive national leadership hierarchy and reduce elective positions for easy management of our ailing economy,” he said.

Some amendments include creation of the powerful Prime Minister’s position, reducing the number of MPs and slashing the President's powers.

Atwoli lauded the recent handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA leader Raila Odinga, saying their political re-union was a milestone in achieving stability of the country.

He however castigated some MPs for plotting to introduce an amendment of the laws pertaining to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) quorum and composition of the Board of Trustees.

He said amending such a law would expose workers' funds to mismanagement by a few individuals.

Atwoli alleged a scheme by some politicians to lock him and some key board members from sitting in the NSSF Board of Trustees to oversee the management of funds.

“If the politicians proceed with the amendment we will move to court to seek legal redress. If that fails, our next option will be to lead our 2.5 million members across the country to withdraw from NSSF and form an alternative pension fund,” Atwoli said.