Workers brave rain as leaders turn event into campaign platform
What you need to know:
- It became a battle for Nairobi politics as debate on whether commissioners at Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission should stay and whether trade unions were engaging in politics.
Politicians on Sunday turned Labour Day celebrations into a platform to market their ambitions, even as workers braved the morning drizzle to attend it.
At Nairobi’s Uhuru Park, there were MPs, diplomats, trade unionists and hecklers; all present to attend a function meant to recognise the contribution of workers.
It had rained the previous night, and showers continued into the morning and only a handful of people turned up initially.
The crowd increased after the rain subsided but there was no announcement to increase the minimum wage.
It then became a battle for Nairobi politics as debate on whether commissioners at Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission should stay and whether trade unions were engaging in politics.
“As Knut, we have no wedding plans, not in love with Kanu. We work with the government in office. Today, I am here to refute those claims” declared Knut Chairman Mudzo Nzili, denying rumours of associating with Kanu.
“Today, the President and the party in office must be helped by all workers to understand that we all need to have our welfare improved.”
Mr Nzili appeared with representatives from the Trade Union Congress, a rival umbrella union of civil servants and teachers, who had tried to unseat Cotu but failed.
In previous Labour Day ceremonies, the Congress tried to stage a rival function.
Nairobi Senator Mike Mbuvi alias Sonko and Nominated MP Johnson Sakaja wore purple outfit to fit in Cotu’s colours and showed up each with his crowd of supporters.
They both want to be Governor of Nairobi next year.
“Sonko is not my opponent. Dennis Waweru is not my opponent. Margaret Wanjiru is not my opponent. We are all together. The problem with Nairobi is our opponent, who is in office allows these things to happen,” said Mr Sakaja, referring to the collapse of a building in Nairobi where 14 people were killed.
Sakaja tried to steer clear of attacking his other opponents, but jeers started. When Mr Mbuvi got hold of the microphone, he issued a direct jab at Sakaja.
“Let those 20 supporters of Sakaja keep quiet, and let all those many supporters of mine relax too,” he said before attacking employers who keep workers on casual terms for long.
Recent opinion polls have ranked Senator Mbuvi as Kidero’s main challenger. But those surveys were conducted long before Sakaja, Waweru and Wanjiru declared intention to stand.
Francis Atwoli, the Central Organisation of Trade Unions boss urged the government to ensure IEBC commissioners leave office “quietly.”
Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria said: “We also don’t want this IEBC. It belongs to Raila...but let us follow the law. Let him bring the Bill to Parliament and we will pursue it.”
