Editor's Review

"The labour movement will protect them against any attacks that will impede on their delivery of service." 

Central Organization Of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has announced that COTU will protect the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) from attacks.

The Judiciary in a statement on Tuesday, January 16 noted that Atwoli who was speaking during the opening session of the training for the court’s judges on International Labour Standards said he will not allow attacks on the ELRC judges that will affect their service delivery.

“COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has assured judges of the Employment and Labour Relations Court that the labour movement will protect them against any attacks that will impede on their delivery of service,” read the statement in part.

According to the Judiciary, Atwoli pointed out that there should be no blanket attacks on judges, many of whom are performing their duties with diligence.

File image of COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli. 

The COTU boss in a separate statement mentioned he told the judges they have a responsibility to ensure the effectiveness of International Labour Standards in Kenya by referring to the same in their various judgments.

“As such, the ongoing training on ILS is timely considering the need to raise the capacity of our judges to understand the various International Labour Standards,” Atwoli stated.

President William Ruto, his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and politicians from the Kenya Kwanza coalition have in recent days called out the judiciary over claims that some corrupt judicial officers and judges are sabotaging the Universal Health Care and Affordable Housing projects.

However, Chief Justice Martha Koome defended the Judiciary noting that the trend of attacking and criticizing judges in public in ongoing cases is a way of intimidating them.