COTU boss Francis Atwoli. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) secretary general Francis Atwoli has asked governors to follow the due process in sacking county staff.
Atwoli accused a section of governors who have already taken action against some of their staff of overstepping their mandate.
He termed the move a breach of labour laws, thus threatening to move to court to stop the said county bosses from firing workers.
According to the Nation, Atwoli said such a move by governors will be met with “equal force” from Cotu.
“You will be forced to pay heavily for such an evil and illegal action and we’ll use all available means, including the courts to get justice,” said Atwoli in a statement Tuesday.
He cautioned the governors after it emerged that some of those who’ve assumed office have already taken action against their county staff.
In Nairobi, barely a day after he was sworn-in to replace Dr Evans Kidero as the county boss, Governor Mike Sonko struck at the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC), thereby suspending its board.
This follows a one-week workers’ strike over claims the board had declined to renew the contracts of the firm’s managing director and other senior managers on allegations of non-performance.
Other governors who’ve already suspended workers include Kiraitu Murungi of Meru and Tharaka-Nithi’s Muthomi Njuki.
In Siaya, Governor Cornell Rasanga has been on the spot after he was accused of publicly telling workers who campaigned for his rivals in the just-concluded polls not to report to work.