Crack whip on corruption to be sure of re-election in 2017, Atwoli tells President Uhuru Kenyatta

President Uhuru Kenyatta has a word with COTU secretary General Francis Atwoli (left), during the 2015 Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Park. PHOTO: GOVEDI ASUTSA/FILE.

KISUMU: The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu)'s Secretary General Francis Atwoli has challenged President Uhuru Kenyatta to sternly strike a whip to abate corruption issues in the country.

While speaking in Kisumu during the launch of a certificate course in Trade Unionism for Social Justice in East Africa, Mr Atwoli expressed disappointment over the ongoing corruption deals in the country and the degenerating value of the shilling against the dollar.

"The Head of State in this country is a young man. The problem is he is so good but cannot say no, he says yes to everyone, even for someone who is going to steal from him. As an elder, of burning spear, I must speak and remain burning, doesn't be a yes man to everybody. You cannot please everybody," he said.

He told the president to get rid of corrupt individuals in power if he intends to get the support of Kenyans when he runs for a second term in 2017.

“You will get the support of young people and from the workers union in your second term, but you have to axe some people however painful it may be, for the survival of our nation. The nation is bigger than all of us," he said.

Concerning the issue of Kenya Airway's financial crunch, Atwoli said the union will not allow that the airline reduces salaries and wages of pilots. They are lying because these employees are protected by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)," he said.

Atwoli said it is very unfortunate that for the first time in Kenya, the strength of the shilling against the dollar has weakened to Sh102, something that has never been heard of before.

"If the current corruption trends continue, our money's value will deteriorate and be worse than that of our neighbours in the East Africa Community (EAC). I want to challenge the Central Bank Governor that when he moves projects from millions to billions, he is trying to communicate that the money is valueless," Atwoli said.

He said people are against National Social Security Fund (NSSF) having a fully-fledged board, stating that currently Sh130 billion that belongs to it is in jeopardy yet Kenyans are quiet about it.

"Someone has gone to cabinet and come up with a project proposal of Sh130 billion equivalent to the total portfolio of the worker's money. Isn't this auctioning worker's money? The country is currently spending Sh7.1 billion tax payer's money in building Hazina Trade Centre in a place where nobody can rent an office. We have also raised the issue of Tassia's Sh5.05 billion project. We are living in a country where corruption is perpetrated in broad day light," he said.

He said the corrupt individuals can continue enjoying protection to conduct their graft but one day someone else will come and put things in order.

"For now you can hide and protect yourself using the stolen money. I might not be there, but someone else will one day come to save Kenyans from corrupt officers and political leaders," he said.
He called upon Kenyans to ensure they earn their money the right way and not make it through corrupt deals.