COTU (K) PRESENTS VIEWS ON THE PARTIAL DIVESTITURE IN SAFARICOM PLC

COTU (K) led by the Deputy Secretary General Bro Benson Okwaro appeared before the Departmental Commiteee on Finance and National Planning and the Select Commitee on Public debt and Privatization to provide views on sessional paper No.3 of 2025 on the partial divestiture of the government of kenya’s shareholding in Safaricom PlC. We formally petioned the national assembly to secure labour protections for safaricom employees as the government moves forward with plans to reduce its shareholding in the telecommunications giant.COTU (K) stressed that formalizing labour guarantees within the sessional paper is vital for sustainaible governance , providing a predictable mechanism to resolve disputes and prevent industrial action.The organization fronted the following strategic proposals in support of the sessional paper: Development -oriented and inclusive Deployment of divestiture proceeds,Protection of public interest ,workers and inclusive ownership, Trasparency and governance ,Worker representation in governance, unionization and labour standards and protection of safaricom workers.

COTU (K) reiterates its support for the proposed partial sale of the governments shares in safaricom PLC specifically on the basis that the proceeds are ring -fenced as seed capital for the establishment of national infrastructure fund. Our support is grounded in the conviction that this policy choice is intended to address kenyas infrastucture deficit,accelerate job creation ,lower the cost doing business,support industrialization , and promote long-term, inclusiive economic growth.