The African Trade Union Movement has lauded Maina Kiai for being the first ever Kenyan to win the coveted George Meany-Khirkland Human Rights Award.

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The award is administered by Central Organisation of Trade Unions COTU (K)’s counterparts in the USA, the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisation (AFL- CIO).

In a statement to newsrooms, COTU (K)’s secretary general Francis Atwoli said it cherishes the long standing relationship with the AFC-CIO that dates back to over 60 years particularly for playing host to the American Centre for International Labour Solidarity (ACILS) a non- profit organization aligned with AFCL-CIO.

Atwoli said he is proud to have gone through Trade Union Training at the George Meany Centre in the USA.

“Indeed the recognition extended to Mr Kiai who has done exemplary work in defending both basic human rights a well as workers’ and Trade Union rights in Kenya and globally will go along way in extending further this relationship between the American and Kenyan workers,” said Atwoli.

He said COTU (K) takes cognizant of the citation that the Award singles out Maina for advancing worker and human rights issues, specifically highlighting the widespread denial of fundamental human rights at work and in society in United States and worldwide.

“No doubt Kiai has been a true champion of social justice and related rights to date and even previously at the helm of the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) where he exhibited unrivalled commitment by pin-pointing out all manner of violations that were being meted against Kenyan politicians that were fighting for the current democratic space and for the second liberation,” added Atwoli.

“Let this award serve as a model to the young upcoming Kenyans and contribute towards shaping them into standing firm to fight against the rampant corruption in this country that has turned into open theft of our resources at the expense of our loyal tax payers in the country,” he added.

He said the Kenya’s Labour Movement stands with AFCL-CIO President Richard Trumka as he officially hands over the award to Mr Maina Kiai.