STATEMENT ON IMPOSITION OF INDIVIDUALS AS TRADE UNION OFFICIALS
Our attention has been drawn to a post circulating online that a union claiming to represent Floriculture and Horticulture workers dubbed Kenya Export Floriculture, Horticulture and Allied Workers Union held a meeting with the Deputy President to discuss among other things economic restoration in post-COVID-19.
We would like to state as follows:
- The existence of any Trade Union is pegged on its ability to foremost command representation by having a Recognition Agreement (RA) and a Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA) for its members and affiliation foremost to the national trade union center as well as other Global Union Federations (GUFs)
- The so-called Kenya Export Floriculture, Horticulture and Allied Workers Union has no single Locus Standi to claim to be a trade union since the entity has never entered into any CBA with any employer nor Recognition Agreement and is not even recognized by the umbrella employer in the sector, Agricultural Employers Association (AEA) and neither is it recognized by the sole umbrella trade union representing employers in the country, the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE).
- Kenya Export Floriculture, Horticulture and Allied Workers Union is not an affiliate of COTU-K which is the sole umbrella workers body in Kenya.
- Employees in the floriculture and horticulture sector are full-fledged members of the giant Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) which is headquartered in Nakuru.
Therefore, anyone claiming to be an official of the aforementioned entity can best be described as an extortionist and conman masquerading as a trade union official to attract handouts from leaders while exploiting the worker’s platform. We challenge the team accompanying the alleged General Secretary to provide any proof of their registration as officials of any trade union in Kenya and caution government officials not to fall prey to these imposters.
Dr. Francis Atwoli, NOM (DZA), EBS, MBS
Secretary General, COTU-K.
