Central Organization of Trade Unions Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has blamed former Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for the ongoing strike by aviation workers protesting the Adani Group’s looming takeover of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Atwoli speaking at the airport on Wednesday morning stated that the whole issue would have been sorted earlier were it not for the arrogance of the then Transport CS who is now in charge of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports.
He termed CS Murkomen as “arrogant” for not picking up his clls and choosing to ignore the situation.
“I personally as COTU Sec Gen tried to call then CS Murkomen before these things started with a view of trying to advise him to meet the workers and explain this Adani issue to workers,” he stated.
“Our ministers are arrogant; they don’t take telephones and if they do they take phones from businessman and employers and disregard workers’ calls. This is very dangerous and is what has brought what is happening here now,” he further stated.
Atwoli further suspected that the actions by former Transport officals potrayed a government that sought to hide the details of the Adani deal.
“We are urging our members to remain firm, strong. They have our support until we report on this issue. It was a very simple matter where that our members wouldn’t lose jobs as it is required by law,” Atwoli noted.
“That assurance alone, we wouldn’t be where we are now but a lot of arrogance. The Adani it’s as if it is exclusive to management and government and we cannot allow that,” he further added.
At the same time, the COTU boss demanded the immediate release of airport workers arrested for staging protests.
