Secretary General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), Francis Atwoli, has called for the resignation and subsequent prosecution of Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) Director General Fazul Mahamed.
This follows Mahamed’s directive on Monday to private security companies to stop deducting and remitting security officers’ fees to COTU, citing the union’s alleged failure to advocate for the rights of private security officers.
Mahamed, in the directive that caused him to clash with Atwoli, also threatened to revoke licences for security firms that did not comply with the order.
In a Tuesday rejoinder, Atwoli questioned Mahamed’s credentials, citing 2016 reports from the EACC and the Office of the Ombudsman that reportedly declared him unqualified for public office after allegedly falsifying an Egerton University degree.
“At this point, COTU (K) urges the ODPP to expedite the prosecution of Fazul due to his alleged criminal activities, which led to his appointment as CEO of the NGO Board. If the ODPP fails to prosecute Fazul promptly, despite the evidence of his criminal activities, COTU (K) will engage a private prosecutor to protect Kenyan workers from this individual,” said Atwoli.
“Considering the lack of purpose and direction by Fazul, at the helm of PSRA, it might be prudent for him to resign so that the body finds a competent person who understands the role(s) of a regulator.”
Atwoli also accused Mahamed of meddling in the affairs of the Kenya National Private Security Workers Union (KNPSWU), the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, and the Federation of Kenyan Employers.
“In a manner to profess his megalomaniac character, Fazul has christened himself as the Employer, Regulator, and Union, at the same time. Without a doubt, the path Fazul has taken can only come to a tragic end following his Hyena-like Dilemma,” stated the COTU boss.
“It must be remembered that COTU is a free and independent trade union that is neither regulated by Private Security Regulatory Authority nor any other government agency. As such the demands contained in the letter by PSRA can only be made by the union members and/or the respective union.”
Atwoli further labelled PSRA, under Mahamed’s stewardship, as the greatest impediment to the enhancement of the rights and welfare of private security firms in Kenya.
“COTU has received numerous complaints on the same through our affiliate union, Kenya National Private Security Workers Union. PSRA has, for long, stood against the many reforms proposed by COTU (K) towards enhanced welfare of the Private Security Workers,” said Atwoli.
The COTU boss also highlighted the legal framework under which union dues are collected from PRSA.
“The union dues COTU (K) receives from Private Security Workers, through their Union’s Affiliation to COTU (K), is as a consequence of a Gazette Notice by the Ministry of Labour, dated 2nd September 2016, considering the labour laws and the requirements of the constitution of COTU,” he noted.
