Atwoli decries high cost of living seeks a sit down with President Ruto
National
By
Joackim Bwana and Emmanuel Kipchumba
| Oct 18, 2023
Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has decried the high cost of living in the country.
Atwoli said the workers union will hold a meeting with President William Ruto over the same.
Atwoli said COTU has already engaged the president for a high-level meeting with his advisors and relevant ministries.
He said the meeting is to explore potential solutions to address the skyrocketing cost of living in the country.
The secretary general urged the government to caution Kenyans against the skyrocketing cost of essential goods in the country blamed on the rising cost of fuel.
Atwoli was speaking in Mombasa where he joined IndustriALL Global Union at their Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Committee meeting.
He said that IndustriALL Global Union plays a vital role in the efforts to address the challenges faced by laborers in promoting workers' rights, social justice, and sustainable industrial development.
He observed that the evolving landscape of labor in the region is faced by challenges.
''We also face the ever-growing challenges posed by the rapid advance of technology, automation, and the gig economy, which reshape the world of work," said Atwoli.
Atwoli noted that IndustriALL has remained true to the workers' agenda over the years by always championing for the rights and welfare of their members that cuts across the globe.
He underscored the enduring importance of organized labour in the modern world, urging the union leaders to remain true to the solemn role of advocating for the rights and welfare of the working people in their respective countries.
"This duty transcends borders and knows no boundaries because the challenges and aspirations of workers across Sub-Saharan Africa mirror those of countless labourers across the globe and, thus, we gather here not only as representatives of our individual unions but also as a collective force for progress and justice," he said.
He called on Unionists to rise up and defend their members against exploitation.''we must strengthen our bonds of solidarity, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing over and above forging stronger partnerships, exchange experiences, and strategize for the road ahead," said Atwoli.