Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli was on Wednesday misrepresented in Parliament by a female representative he had nominated to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
Members of the National Assembly Finance Committee presented a report in which they rejected Atwoli's nominee based on her personal conduct before the panel.
According to the report, Nelly Peris Ashubwe did not convince the Members of Parliament (MPs) that she possessed the soft skills required for the role she had been selected to take.
"The nominee presented herself before the Committee in a manner that gave the impression that she does not have the diplomacy and negotiation skills required for the position she has been nominated," the report read in part.
Aside from the behavioural disqualification, the Trade Unions Congress – Kenya (TUC-K) swore an affidavit claiming that she had not been selected in a transparent process.
Through Charles Mukhwana, TUC argued that it is the body that reserved a slot at the commission and not COTU, citing a judgement made through a Judicial Review proceeding.
Judge C. W. Githua ruled: "By virtue that its members are public officers/servants and State officers working in the State offices and/or agencies, and whose interests lie at the mercy of the SRC."
In response to the contested nomination, Ashubwe had insisted that Atwoli nominated her after she submitted an application to COTU.
"She stated that TUC-K was a rival organisation of COTU and hence the contestation. She informed the Committee that she had represented COTU in many trade dispute cases and hence her nomination," the report read in part.
The Finance Committee, however, approved the nomination of Halima Abdille Mohammed, former Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno, Leah Mumbua Munyao, John Kennedy Monyoncho, Margret Sawe, Amani Yuda Komora and Sophie Moturi to the commission.
The MPs further recommended Lyn Cherop Mengich for appointment as SRC chairperson.
SRC is constituted of a representative from the Parliamentary Service Commission, the Public Service Commission, an umbrella body representing trade unions the Defence Council, Teachers Service Commission, the Senate, an umbrella body representing employers and the Joint forum of professional bodies.
