- He cautioned that if the President ignores what is happening on the streets, the country will be thrown to the dogs.
- Okwari urged Ruto to emulate the previous leaders who embraced dialogue with the opposition.
Image: CAROLYNE KUBWA
The Central Organization of Trade unions (COTU) has called on President William Ruto to embrace dialogue with Azimio leader Raila Odinga.
COTU Deputy Secretary-General Benson Okwaro on Saturday said it is important that the two leaders listen and sit down to talk for the sake of peace of the nation on the hyped mass demonstration on Monday.
He cautioned that if the President ignores what is happening on the streets, the country will be thrown to the dogs.
Okwaro urged Ruto to emulate the previous leaders who embraced dialogue with the opposition.
"Whatever has happened in the past is a dialogue that has brought peace. Let our leaders not ignore so that our country can be saved," he said.
"The two leaders should talk and not for government positions or nusu mkate but for a better Kenya. We are waiting for our leaders to talk and call off the mass demonstration come tomorrow on Sunday," Okwaro urged.
He also cautioned workers and urged them to report to work saying Monday 20, has not been gazetted as a public holiday.
"Let employees report to work to secure their livelihood. Let us not be used by politicians. This country is bigger than us all. We must leave the country as peacefully as we found it. History will judge us well," Okwaro told the press in Nairobi.
He said Raila declaring Monday a holiday, is not proper as nobody other than the interior CS Kithure Kindiki has the power to declare a holiday for the country.
"His declaration is against the law. We require our members to report to work and secure their work."
He added that the constitution allows for demonstration and picketing, however, it should be peaceful.
The COTU Deputy boss expressed his fear that come Monday, many employers may not open their workstations due to the repercussions the demonstration may cause.
"As much as Kenyans are aggrieved about the high cost of living, the parties must talk. We don't need people from outside the country to come and have us talk for the sake of peace, Ruto and Raila can dialogue," he added.
Okwaro urged the public to maintain peace saying the political class can't save us as they have their own interests.
He said for food prices to go down and taxes, leaders need to come together and have the interest of the country.
"The government cannot lie to Kenyans that it didn't know about some people who were never paying taxes, they knew a long time ago," he said.
He also asked the leaders in government to embrace opposition in working together just as COTU is working with it.
"After elections, we agreed to work with the government to move together," Okwaro said.