PSRA declines COTU’s invite to attend Labour Day celebrations

Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has declined an invitation by the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) to attend the Labour Day celebrations.

PSRA has cited an alleged ongoing forensic investigation concerning the handling of funds totalling Ksh1.683 billion.

According to PSRA, the funds were deducted from private security guards and were purportedly remitted to COTU-Kenya.

In a statement, PSRA Director General Fazul Mahamed cited their legal duty and obligation to promote the welfare and protect the rights of over 1.3 million private security guards in Kenya as the primary reason for their decline.

"COTU-Kenya is the subject of an active forensic investigation under Section 10 (b) of the Act on the collection and use of Ksh1.683 billion that has over the years been deducted from private security guards and remitted to COTU-Kenya, therefore, as an Authority we are conflicted and must with a clear conscience decline your invitation," Mahamed said in a letter addressed to COTU secretary Francis Atwoli.

Mahamed expressed concerns over the utilization of funds contributed to the trade union, which acts as an umbrella union for all trade unions in Kenya.

"At the core of the Authority's mandate under Section (I) of the Act lies a legal duty and a solemn obligation to promote the welfare and protect the rights of over 1.3 million private security guards in Kenya. We firmly believe that any financial contribution from these hardworking and lowly paid private security guards should be utilized with utmost integrity, and solely directed towards advocating for their rights, and compliance with the minimum wage of Ksh30,000 and promote the general welfare of security guards," PSRA announced.

"At any time in the course of our duty, if we are confronted with the decision of supporting hardworking and underpaid Kenyan workers on one end, or indulging in a flamboyant lifestyle and luxurious trips financed by the sweat of hardworking and underpaid workers on the other end, the Authority without hesitation will choose and prioritize to stand on the side which supports improved welfare and empowerment of the Kenyan worker.

"This ethical stance of supporting private security officers (security guards) - who are overworked and underpaid - reflects our commitment to social justice, and economic fairness and our strive for deliberate action that uplifts and supports the economic empowerment and improved welfare of the over 1.3 million private security guards in Kenya," the statement concluded.

COTU responds to PSRA

In response, COTU dismissed the sending an invite to PSRA, asserting that their focus is solely on unions rather than regulatory bodies.

"COTU (K), has no business with a regulator because we do not get our membership from any regulator. The membership of COTU (K) is derived from Unions and not any regulator. COTU (K) has not, and cannot, invite PSRA considering we have no business with such an amorphous entity," COTU said in a statement on its X account.

This exchange comes at a time when a competing labour union has announced its intention to host separate Labour Day festivities in opposition to the traditional ones arranged by COTU-K.

In an unexpected twist, the Trade Unions Congress of Kenya (TUCO), a relatively lesser-known entity, has declared its plans to hold celebrations at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) Grounds on May 1.

Meanwhile, COTU-K has set its sights on the Uhuru Gardens in Lang’ata Nairobi for its own celebrations on the same day and time. Both factions have extended invitations to President William Ruto to attend their respective events.

TUCO vs COTU

TUCO is closely linked with Charles Mukhwaya, the Secretary General of the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU). The organization's roots can be traced back to a longstanding conflict with COTU-K, which began during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s initial term in office.

It was during this period that the then Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi established TUCO with the explicit goal of outsmarting COTU-K Secretary General Francis Atwoli.