MP, lobby groups pleads with unions over call for workers to leave clash-torn northern Kenya
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion with union chairman Mudzo Nzili at a past press briefing. A judge has ordered Knut to explain why it is opposed to the collection of agency fees from teachers who are non-union members. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The groups asked why the same approach was not applied during massacres witnessed in Samburu, Mpeketoni and Kapedo.
- Wajir North MP said if the workers heed the unions’ call and abandon the north-eastern region, it would radicalise and alienate the communities there.
- He urged the State to guarantee the security of its citizens and workers in the region to be given incentives such as hardship allowances.
Wajir North MP Ibrahim Abdi Saney and two lobby groups have pleaded with workers’ unions not to abandon them at their hour of need.
The groups asked the unions to rescind the decision to instruct workers to leave the clash-torn north-eastern region of Kenya, calling it catastrophic.
They said the unions’ advice is “discriminatory, unfortunate, unfair, and based on culture and religion”.
Speaking to the Nation by phone, Mr Saney, Haki Africa executive director Hussein Khalid and Muslim for Human Rights' rapid response officer Fahad Changi instead urged President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, to crack the whip on the top security chiefs, who they said were sleeping on the job.
“We regret what has befallen our brothers; Al-Shabaab should be whipped out and dealt with mercilessly. They want to put a wedge between Kenyan communities along religions lines,” said the MP.
OTHER MASSACRES
He asked why the same approach was not applied during massacres witnessed in Samburu, Mpeketoni and Kapedo.
“Kenyans should be free to travel anywhere within its territory. Unions are not helping in any way; until we manage our borders and stop arms from coming into the country we will never enjoy homeland security. We need sufficient surveillance in our borders and there should be enough manpower and aerial survey,” added Mr Saney.
The MP said if the workers heed the unions’ call and abandon the north-eastern region, it would radicalise and alienate the communities there.
He noted that the region suffers a huge shortage of health workers and if they leave, the residents there would suffer.
“They will brand us a terrorist community yet we have suffered immensely. When the rest of Kenyans abandon us, it will be unfair; we should all fight terrorists,” said Mr Saney.
GUARANTEE SECURITY
He urged the State to guarantee the security of its citizens and workers in the region to be given incentives such as hardship allowances.
“It is ill-advised to ask members to leave the region. It is like giving travel advisories within the country. Let us focus on whipping terrorists.” he added.
Mr Khalid warned workers' unions against recalling their members, saying the region would continue to be marginalised.
“Everyone is a Kenyan and everyone’s safety must be guaranteed. If every worker leaves, the residents will not benefit from devolution,” he added.
“The people of (the) north-eastern region pay taxes and are eligible to benefit from everything that all Kenyans benefit from.
“The Constitution gives them the right to be educated, access health-care services and all other basic human needs,” said Mr Changi.
He further added that it is horrifying for the trade unions to think that north-eastern Kenya cannot benefit from all constitutionally mandated benefits.
“We call upon all the unions to rescind their decision. Let's come to the drawing board and let the government deal with insecurity. The government must give all Kenyans security, unions are going against the Constitution,” added Mr Changi.
“It is sad, if we are not careful as a country we will be divided along religious lines. We should consider investing in security surveillance equipment’s like CCTV cameras,” said Mvita MP Abdullswamad Nassir.
