Cotu Gen Secretary Francis Atwoli Claims Murkomen Declined to Explain Adani Deal
Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has cast blame on former Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for the ongoing strike by aviation workers protesting the Adani Group’s looming takeover of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
“I called the previous CS for Roads and transport, Murkomen, with a view to trying to educate and advise him to meet with the workers and explain the Adani issue to them. Our ministers are arrogant; they don’t pick up calls unless they are from businessmen and employers. This is what has brought all this” He stated
The strike, which started at midnight, paralysed the international airport leaving thousands of travellers stranded for hours over the government’s plan to lease the airport to the Indian conglomerate.
Atwoli, speaking at the airport on Wednesday morning, said the whole issue would have been sorted earlier were it not for the arrogance of the then Transport CS who is now in charge of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports.
“I personally as COTU Sec Gen tried to call then CS Murkomen before these things started with a view of trying to advise him to meet the workers and explain this Adani issue to workers,” he said.
“Our ministers are arrogant, they don’t take telephones and if they do they take phones from businessmen and employers and disregard workers’ calls. This is very dangerous and is what has brought what is happening here now,” he added.
At around 11:00 am, Kenya Airports Authority released a statement, indicating that minimal operations had resumed at the airport. KAA also encouraged passengers to reach out to their respective airlines to confirm their flight status.
The COTU boss at the same time demanded the immediate release of airport workers arrested for staging protests.
