Atwoli and Four CEOs Absent from Crucial Labour Meeting Which Has Raised Concerns

In the expected meeting organized by the Secretary of Labor Florence Bore on Thursday 28 March to discuss the issue of the minimum wage policy for private security guards, the Secretary General of the Central Organization of Kenya Trade Unions (COTU) Francis Atwoli was nowhere to be seen. -K) and four chief executive officers (CEOs).

The meeting, which will be held at the CS office, aims to discuss the ongoing debate on the minimum wage for private security personnel, which has created controversy in the past few months.

Among those invited are the CEO of the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) Eline Mugo; Fazul Mahamed, CEO, Private Securities Regulatory Authority (PSRA); head of private security regulatory body; Isaac Andabwa, Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Private Security Workers; Annette Kimitei, Managing Director of SENACA Security Services; and Cosmas Mutava, CEO of the Kenya Security Industry Association and Chairman of the Kenya Defense and Security Association.

Unfortunately, due to the short notice of the invitation sent the day before the scheduled meeting, the stakeholders were informed that they could not attend.

CS Bore’s initiative to call the meeting coincided with the planned gathering of security personnel at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on March 30 for mass registration and issue of security force numbers. There is also speculation about possible demonstrations when the PSRA gathers to support the proposed Ksh30,000 monthly minimum wage.

Bore, however, refrained from supporting the proposal, citing ongoing litigation as a reason for the decision. He said the matter is now under judicial review and expressed confidence in the judicial system to give fair and just verdicts in accordance with the law and the constitution.

The development added complexity to the contentious issue after the PSRA gave companies a 30-day ultimatum to implement the minimum wage structure.

As stakeholders navigate the complexities of wage policy and litigation, the broader conversation about fair compensation and labor rights for private security guards remains an important topic in the Kenyan labor context.