- Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) boss Francis Atwoli invited Fazul to the event in a letter dated February 28.
- But in a rejoinder on April 30, Fazul said he had declined the invite because his authority is currently auditing Cotu deductions.
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The Director General Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) Fazul Mahamed has declined an invitation by the umbrella union body to attend International Labour Day Celebrations.
The celebrations are scheduled for May 1 at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi.
Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) boss Francis Atwoli invited Fazul to the event in a letter dated February 28.
But in a rejoinder on April 30, Fazul said he had declined the invite because his authority is currently auditing Cotu deductions.
“COTU-Kenya is the subject of an active forensic investigation under Section 10 (b) of the Act on the collection and use of over Sh1.6 billion that has been deducted and remitted to the union by private security companies, therefore, we are conflicted and must decline your invitation.”
“At the core of the Authority’s mandate under Section (l) of the Act lies a legal duty to promote the welfare and rights of private security officers,” he said in the letter.
Cotu boss Francis Atwoli and Fazul have been at loggerheads over the management of the umbrella union.
PSRA launched a forensic investigation into the private security officers’ trade union fee deductions and remittances made to the Central Organization of Trade Unions, COTU-Kenya in the last 36 months.
The move came days after Fazul Mahammed ordered all security firms to immediately cease deductions and remittances to COTU.
The PSRA directed the firms to submit a schedule of deductions and remittances as well as all financial correspondences between the firms and COTU regarding the same.
PSRA has appointed a team of auditors to probe the collection and use of finances that have been deducted from at least 1.3 million guards.
“Take notice that failure to comply with the directive shall result in a statutory review of your registration and licencing status in accordance with Section 32 of the Private Security Regulation Act,” Fazul said in a letter to the security firms.
Atwoli however dismissed the directive saying such orders can only be made by the union members or the respective union.
Atwoli further said the union dues received from Private Security Workers, through their Union’s Affiliation to COTU (K), are a consequence of a Gazette Notice by the Ministry of Labour, dated 2nd September 2016, considering the labour laws and the requirements of the constitution of COTU (K).
“It must be remembered that COTU (K) is a free and Independent Trade Union that is neither regulated by the Private Security Regulatory Authority nor any other Government Agency,” Atwoli said.
Atwoli further took a swipe at Mahamed accusing him of lacking an understanding of industrial relations practices and reaffirmed COTU’s leading role in driving reforms within the private security sector.