Central Organisation of Trade Unions ( COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has assured President William Ruto of full support for his admistration from the Western region.
Speaking at Ekambuli Church of God in Khwisero, Kakamega County on Sunday, November 10, 2024, Atwoli affirmed that the western region wa fully behind Ruto’s government.
He opined that the area will assist the president actualise his manifesto, adding that anyone who does not support the current administration from the region, risks arrest.
" Nahakikisha rais ya kwamba hapa western, sasa sisi sote tuko ndani ya serikali, na mtu akiwa nje, we will arrest him. Nilisema mtu akiwa anakaa katika security council ya serikali, ambayo inaangalia usalama wa nchi na anatoka nje, anaongea mambo ya ndani kule, must be arrested, sababu ikitoka nchi hii ni wamama, watoto na wafanyi kazi ndio huumia zaidi and we must have laws to protect them,” Atwoli Stated.
This, loosely translates to, 'I'm assuring you Mr President, here in Western Kenya we are fully in Government and if anyone's outside, we will arrest them. I also said that anyone who's within Security Council in government and is going about spilling the beans on Government secrets, Mr President, arrest them as well'
The COTU Boss, also urged the head of state to consider Constitutional amendments. The outspoken leader explained that Ruto cannot successfully undertake his agenda as president due to the avenues in the constitution which give the citizenry the powers to challenge policies and government undertaking they deem as oppressive and against the law.
Atwoli insisted that while the President may want to have a project in the country, the constitution allows people to move to court and stop the project even when it is a good one.
" We want the president to help us change the Constitution of Kenya 2010. As is, the current constitution gives people the leeway to run to courts to challenge the president whenever he wants to bring us development" Atwoli stated.
"A national project cannot continue because it has been challenged in court. If someone killed you today, they will be given bonds in court and then run around to prove themselves as innocent. We want to review our current constitution. Some provisions tend to hold the president back, and his first term might lapse without him achieving anything due to the cases challenging his development agenda," the COTU boss reiterated.
Atwoli's sentiments came in the wake of the Executive facing off with petitioners challenging government policies and agendas in court.
In the past year, Ruto's regime has been caught in protracted legal battles with civil societies and citizens who moved to court to challenge, among others, the Finance Act 2023, the Housing Levy, and the rollout of SHIF under SHA.
The Executive was recently handed a win by the Supreme Court, which reinstated the Finance Act 2023, enabling the government to collect revenue to fund its operations.
The apex court's decision quashed that of the lower appellate court, which annulled the finance law for being unconstitutional due to a lack of adequate public participation during the enactment process.
The government currently relies on the provisions of the Finance Act 2023 to collect revenue following Ruto's decision to annul the Finance Bill 2024, which was due for his assent.
Additionally, the COTU Boss, insisted that the president must also play his half in serving the residents to improve their lifestyle.
