NSSF Bill locks out union, claims Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli addresses the Press in his Nairobi office, Sunday.  [PHOTO: TABITHA OTWORI/STANDARD]

By STANDARD REPORTER

KENYA: The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) has expressed displeasure at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Bill, which it claims will lock the umbrella body out of the NSSF board.

Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli said the newly proposed Bill was off and further claimed that corrupt individuals and groups are trying to keep them out of NSSF.

“Cartels and corrupt individuals in the country have invaded offices meant to articulate and formulate Bills to be presented in Parliament by proposing that Cotu and the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) be kicked out of the NSSF board,” said Atwoli.

Workers’ money

Atwoli, after a meeting with union leaders affiliated to Cotu, yesterday said they had resolved that the Bill should be withdrawn immediately, failure to which the leaders would rally their workers to fight it.

“This current Bill is not what we agreed on; the previous amended version had the support of the stakeholders and social partners,” he said. “Our mandate is to protect the interests of workers at NSSF and the National Hospital Insurance Fund and that is what we will do. NSSF is not a government parastatal; it is purely workers and employers’ money.”