The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) has called on President William Ruto not to assent to the Finance Bill 2024 passed by the National Assembly on Tuesday, saying the concerns of the protesters were genuine.
According to COTU, Tuesday’s demonstrations were infiltrated by thugs and those who looted were acting against the intention of the protesters.
Atwoli said the protesters had earlier promised that their march would be peaceful.
“For now, on behalf of Kenyan workers, some of whom will not be able to reach their workplaces during the demonstrations, we appeal to the President to suspend assent to the Finance Bill,” the COTU general secretary said.
Atwoli explained that young Kenyans were only concerned about the content of the Finance Bill and the demonstrations witnessed across the country were their way of making the government listen.
“They were genuine,” said Atwoli.
He further explained that during the public participation phase, COTU had written to the government on some of the contentious issues in the Bill, which were successfully removed.
The COTU secretary-general called on President Ruto to form a commission of inquiry to look into the issues raised by Gen-Z, including tribalism, nepotism, corruption and unemployment.
“Appoint a commission of inquiry to look into the demands of Gen-Z, millennial young men and women and other Kenyans,” he said.
As the country comes to terms with the aftermath of Tuesday’s chaotic scenes, Mr Atwoli also warned that it was better to have a “bad government” than none.
“I want to tell Kenyans that if this country goes down, it will go down with everybody,” Mr Atwoli said. “I have said time and again that it is better to have bad government than no government. Because anarchy is the worst thing for anybody to experience.”
