Atwoli dismisses FKE report that over 5,000 Kenyans have lost their jobs since 2022

COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, says the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) was wrong when it announced that more than 5,000 Kenyans have lost their jobs since President William Ruto assumed office, with 57 companies announcing layoffs.

Atwoli accuses the employers’ federation of spreading propaganda, arguing that the figures presented are inaccurate.

“This is high-level propaganda aimed at creating fear among our negotiators when it comes to renewing our terms of service. If 57 companies are planning to leave Kenya, we would know because the people served by those companies would raise complaints,” he said on Tuesday.

FKE, in its report last week, cautioned the government against any further upward review of taxes pointing out that salaried workers were living on the edge due to the high taxes.

Atwoli also responded to accusations that he has ignored the challenges faced by workers due to wage cuts and the increasing tax burden, with the expected 6% increase in NSSF contributions expected to affect workers even more.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua recently said: “Kenyans are struggling even more, and I’ve seen that even in large worker groups, they’ve joined the praise and worship teams. People are being strangled by NSSF issues, their work now is just singing and worshiping.”

The long-serving unionist however accused the impeached DP of being part of the problem when it comes to the plight of Kenyans with regards to taxes.

“Who started the payslip issue? Who introduced housing levies, who increased taxes in this country? It was Ruto and Gachagua. Where was he then, and why is he speaking to us now?” He retorted.

Atwoli’s rejection of the FKE report appears far removed from the reality of the plight of Kenyan workers.