Uhuru intervenes as ‘Kidero must go’ chants mar Labour Day fete
By DAVID KWALIMWAPresident Uhuru Kenyatta’s speech during the Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru park was briefly interrupted by chants calling for Governor Evans Kidero’s resignation.
Governor Kidero and Senator Mike Sonko are political arch rivals , with the latter keen on taking over the Nairobi Governor seat.
President Kenyatta was forced to intervene and urged the crowd to wait until the Governor’s term ends.
“Kwa sasa Kidero ndiye gavana. Sonko atakapo simama katika uchaguzi mtachukua uamuzi wenu,” said the President.
President Kenyatta also announced a 12 per cent increase on the minimum wage.
“We want to increase salaries because the productivity has also increased,” he said.
Acting Labour Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo acknowledged the contribution of foreign and local investors in growing the economy.
“Let us build this nation together respecting the dignity and humanity of each one of us,” she said.
The labour union marked its 50th anniversary during the this year’s celebrations.
It was founded in 1965 upon dissolution of the Kenya Federation of Labor and the African Workers’ Congress (KFL – AWC) by the then President Jomo Kenyatta.
Governor Kidero was in attendance, as was Cord leader Raila Odinga, Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli and acting Labour Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo.