COTU Secretary-general Francis Atwoli has slammed a headline by Nation saying that he playing politics for survival after hosting President William Ruto at his Kakamega home.
Through a statement, Atwoli termed the story as both sensationalist and inaccurate and terming ironical to praise the union of former DP Rigathi Gachagua and Martha Karua but terming his support for government as betrayal.
“We write in response to the article titled “Atwoli’s Politics of Survival as He Hosts President at Home” published by The Nation. The portrayal of Francis Atwoli as someone who engages in “politics of survival” is both sensationalist and inaccurate.
It is, in fact, ironic that, in the same publication, The Nation lauds impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for joining hands with Martha Karua, a former Azimio running mate, under the headline “United Against Ruto.” Why is it that this is celebrated as unity, while any perceived support for the government of the day is condemned as opportunism?
This double standard reveals a troubling bias. The Nation seems to have taken a position against President Ruto and his administration, as evidenced by these two articles. Such a stance is not only unhelpful but also contradicts the principles of good journalism.” he said
According to Atwoli, COTU will continue to advance the right of Kenyan employees and through working with the government, they will be able to secure the workers interests.
“COTU (K) is committed to advancing the rights and welfare of workers and this is achieved through social dialogue, a cornerstone of tripartism as defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Social dialogue requires engagement with the government of the day to ensure that labour issues are addressed. This does not equate to political survival or partisanship but rather a pragmatic approach to securing workers’ interests. Our many achievements, including the negotiation of better wages, promotion of workers’ rights, and influencing labour policies, are testaments to this commitment.
It must be noted that the seven canons of journalism emphasize impartiality, neutrality, and fairness and thus by painting Mr. Atwoli in a negative light while celebrating others engaging in similar actions, The Nation betrays these principles. Moreover, the publication’s insinuations risk inciting the public against their government and its leaders. If The Nation has chosen to oppose the government of the day, it should be transparent about this bias. However, opposing the government should not be conflated with holding it accountable. The former undermines patriotism, while the latter is a civic duty.
We remind The Nation that wishing failure to the government of the day is tantamount to wishing failure to the state itself. While criticism is essential in democracy, it should be constructive and aimed at strengthening governance, not undermining it. To oppose the presidency is one thing, but to actively wish failure upon a government is unpatriotic and harmful to the nation.
Dr. Francis Atwoli, in his capacity as the Secretary General of COTU (K), will continue to engage with the government of the day in the spirit of social dialogue and mutual cooperation. Our commitment to improving the lives of workers remains unwavering, and we urge The Nation to uphold the principles of fair and balanced reporting in its coverage.” said Atwoli
