National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Bare Duale has attacked Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU's) Secretary General Francis Atwoli over his Labour Day remarks.
Atwoli had taken a swipe at the government over what he termed as a scheme to kick out workers’ and employers’ representatives from the board of trustees of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
Proposed amendments to the NSFF Act 2013 are said to possibly see Atwoli and Federation of Kenya Employees executive director Jacqueline Mugo kicked from NSSF a move that Atwoli has vehemently criticized.
[caption caption="National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale"]
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However, in a series of hard-hitting tweets, Duale has told off Atwoli accusing him misrepresenting facts to the public in a bid to malign the government.
"Today, I heard the Secretary-General of COTU, making uninformed and ignorant allegations regarding some Bills before Parliament, in most uncouth manner, directed at certain Members of Parliament
"May I offer him and his ilk the following basic facts: A few weeks ago, the Cabinet considered and approved a number of Bills for forwarding to Parliament for its Consideration," Duale elaborated.
According to the Garissa Town MP, the Bills are part of Jubilee Government’s Legislative agenda in support of President Uhuru Kenyatta's Big Four Agenda.
"The Bills now stand referred to the various Committees of the House to undertake public participation in furtherance of the requirements of Article 118 of the Constitution."
"Parliament will invite views of the public, including those of Atwoli in his official and private capacity. I am sure the Departmental Committee on Health and that of Labour will invite him, soonest, to give his views on the two Bills that may have caused him sleepless nights recently and air his concerns, formally," Duale quipped.
According to the vocal legislator, Atwoli, on behalf of COTU, will have to convince the relevant Parliamentary Committees on why his organization should continue sitting in the NHIF and NSSF Boards.
[caption caption="COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli "]
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Duale further challenged Atwoli to formally present COTU's memorandum on the Bills openly and objectively and avoid giving his views in public forums, such as labour days celebrations.
