Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has urged President William Ruto to fire National Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) Njuguna Ndung'u over his repeated remarks that the government is broke.
Atwoli who was speaking in Kisumu on Saturday, December 9, 2023, called out the CS stating that he was instilling fear in Kenyans by constantly whining about how broke the government was and that as a CS his job was to be a ray of hope to Kenyans.
He went on to state that Ndung'u should refrain from complaining and instead seek solutions as well as suggestions on how the country can raise revenue to restore its dwindling economy.
"You have asked us to pay for housing levy, where are those houses? You have asked us to pay more taxes, and KRA is on our necks, where is this money going? We know we have external debts, calculate and let us know if Ndung’u comes out with the report not to cry the way he was crying ooh the government is broke… I cannot even be able to pay salaries we are struggling to pay salaries.
"If I was Ruto I would have sacked him the following day, I will sack him! Because yeye ndio mama we don't complain, we don't want to be a nation of complaining. If you complain give us a suggestion, " he said.
Atwoli however said that the union had played its part by making key suggestions to the National Treasury and institutions involved suggesting how the government can breathe life back into Kenya's economy.
He subsequently asked Members of Parliament (MPs) to join the course by standing strong in favour of workers countrywide.
"We as trade unionists have written to the treasury, Central Bank and everybody suggesting how this economy can be rejuvenated. Those members of parliament and particularly our committee on labour in parliament and workers friendly MPs who are in parliament must stand strong and expand this clause from the national dialogue committee's report," he added.
