Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli on Wednesday announced that they will not support Jubilee or CORD in the upcoming General Election.
Atwoli was responding to Dock Workers Union Secretary-General Simon Sang, who announced that the union would support the re-election of the Jubilee government in 2017 Elections.
The COTU boss stated that trade unions would not involve themselves in politics to ensure that they don't divide their members, but will instead work with the ruling government
“As a free and independent trade union organisation, COTU will continue to work with the government of the day and not involve self into unending political squabbles and parties likely to divide our members,” the Secretary-General affirmed.
Atwoli went ahead and divulged that Mr Sang had no right to declare that the Umbrella trade union would support Jubilee since it was against their Constitution.
“The statement by Mr Sang is personal and at no time should it be construed to mean the direction COTU will be taking politically since equally he has no mandate whatsoever to speak on behalf of COTU and the Kenyan workers as a whole,” Atwoli affirmed.
Making the announcement on Monday, Sang had promised to persuade COTU to support President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election.
This comes as a major blow to both Jubilee and CORD since an endorsement by the trade union would have been considered crucial in winning next year's elections.
Both coalitions had been trying to woo the trade union to back its bid in 2017 elections which could have helped to amass huge chunks of votes.
