- On the rising cost of living, Atwoli has proposed that the President order a General Wage Increase.
- It has also recommended a change in law to ensure that COTU directly nominates the workers' representative in parliament and not a political party.
Image: PCS
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli wants the planned delimitation of boundaries suspended until electoral reforms are conducted.
Atwoli also proposes that the existing constituencies should be maintained to “avoid political upheavals in various parts of the country that might feel robbed”.
In his memoranda to the National Dialogue Committee (NDC), Atwoli has also rubbished the call by the Opposition to have an audit of the last general election.
“The audit of the 2022 presidential election is an exercise in futility, more focus should instead be channeled towards electoral reforms than seeking an audit of the 2022 elections,” he said.
On the rising cost of living, the SG held that some of the contributing factors as global economic trends and international commodity prices are beyond the government's control.
“The NDC might not have the power to make any meaningful recommendations on the issues around the cost of living considering this is the role and day-to-day duty of the President and the team of advisors around him,” he noted.
He, however, observed that there are numerous areas where the Kenya Kwanza administration can proactively intervene to mitigate the impact on its citizens.
Among the measures it has proposed include urging the president to order a General Wage Increase akin to the one ordered in 1972 by late President Jomo Kenyatta.
This, he said, is not only a matter of economic justice but also a pragmatic step to improve the well-being of the workforce, reduce poverty and inequality, enhance productivity, stimulate economic growth, and align with international labour standards.
The executive, he added, should also extend some concessions to the businesses operating under the Export Processing Zones to ensure that they maintain jobs.
To address the two-third gender rule, COTU has proposed that Parliament give legislation that encourages political parties to nominate women, especially in their strongholds.
“Such legislation should provide incentives like money from the Political Parties Fund or an Affirmative Action Fund, which can be used to help women participate in the electoral process through their respective parties,” the statement reads.
This is in addition to an amendment of the law to set an amount of money from the Political Parties Fund given to political parties for every woman they brought to Parliament.
The labor union also supports the move by Kenya Kwanza to create the office of the Opposition leader and that of the prime cabinet secretary.
The government, it says, should also allocate budgetary provisions to facilitate the functioning of the offices which include recruitment of staff and office operations.
The union wants the Committee to recommend a change in law to ensure that COTU directly nominates the workers' representative in parliament and not a political party.
COTU, it states, is well positioned to nominate a workers' representative who truly understands the needs, concerns, and aspirations of workers.
“This ensures that the representative's agenda aligns with the interests of the labour force, promoting effective representation in Parliament,” the memorandum further reads.