All should pursue dialogue and sobriety on issues of interest to Kenya’s workers

It pains when well thought-out development projects meant to add value to our society are abruptly or recklessly politicised. Vested interests or not, this practice is abhorrent.

The situation gets worse when those quarrelling over various grievances resort to personalised attacks, including mudslinging. It only serves to create confusion and undermine public confidence in public institutions. 

The storm raised over the Tassia Estate project is one such discomforting development. I am convinced it was entered into through a consultative, procedural process.

But I maintain that if some people noticed anomalies, they are welcome to point them out with a view to rectifying the problems.  

The counter argument about the use of email to seek opinion and concurrence that was employed to approve the now controversial variation of the cost is baffling because we have records where the same was applied in the past, even before I became a Cabinet secretary, and nobody raised a complaint. I do not know how that option was agreed upon.

Those who created the board of directors of the NSSF with all the stakeholders represented were not foolish. They envisaged a practice of consultation in developing policies and executing major undertakings and projects of the Fund.

It is this spirit of dialogue and consultation that is directly under attack in this stand-off. When some board members having misgivings about various developments resort to verbal wars and creating tension, misunderstanding and even animosity at the NSSF, where is consultation.

Dialogue only relates well with dialogue. Behaving like warlords while pretending to pursue dispute resolution contradicts the guiding principles of trade unionism and representation leadership.

The originators of trade unionism wanted to do away with stand-offs in tackling workers’ rights and replaced it with a democratic, consultative framework. When we appear to go against this spirit, we are simply misrepresenting our workers.

I have immense respect for workers. They are the lifeline of our economy. We should always strive to protect their interests. That is why I emphasise continuous dialogue and honest engagement at all times to address all matters to do with their welfare and their assets.

These include: their salaries, their investments, their savings, their institutions and other welfare concerns. Creating among them confusion, fear and tension is a disservice.

Though it is my position that due process was followed in the variation of the cost for the Tassia project from Sh3.6 billion to Sh5.03 billion, nobody blocked those complaining from approaching me or their colleagues on the NSSF Board with their objections and proposals for correction, if possible.

I was shocked, therefore, when Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli erupted with allegations of massive fraud over this project.

I have since suspended the tender to allow for a thorough review of the alleged malpractices in the awarding of the tender. It is not because I share the views of Cotu and Federation of Kenya Employers representatives Atwoli and Ms Jackline Mugo respectively, but because I want all doubts to be cleared so we can move on.

In two or three weeks I have engaged all the concerned offices to investigate and bring out any fraud on NSSF projects. This is to enable us to clean up the mess and ensure we limit suspicions, infighting and eradicate mismanagement of public funds.

Isn’t it ironical, as seen in the Tassia case, that there is a strong alliance between the employer and the workers’ representative over NSSF projects? Ordinarily, the two are expected to be on opposite sides. Their current marriage of convenience, and more so over contracts, should raise eyebrows.

It is also very strange that the two are now pretending to be anti-corruption crusaders when they have been silent on the same NSSF board in the past when major rip-offs took place.

I do not want to impute improper motives on them, but I want them to join me in straightening matters in this ministry and its departments for the good of our workers and our country.

Mr Kambi is the Cabinet secretary for Labour ([email protected]).