PSRA Launches Probe Into Guards’ Union Fees Remitted To COTU-K

NAIROBI Kenya April 23 -The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has launched a forensic investigation into the private security officers’ trade union fees deductions and remittances made to Central Organization of Trade Unions, COTU-Kenya in the last 36 months.

The move comes just a week after the PSRA Director General Fazul Mahammed ordered all security firms to immediately cease deductions and remittances to the Francis Atwoli-led COTU.

The PSRA directed the firms to submit, within three days, a schedule of deductions and remittances as well as all financial correspondences between the firms and COTU regarding the same.

PSRA has appointed a team of auditors led by Phillip Okello and Clintion Ighalula to probe the collection and use of finances that have been deducted from at least 1.3 million guards.

“Take notice that failure to comply with the directive shall result in a statutory review of your registration and licencing status in accordance with Section 32 of the Private Security Regulation Act,” Mahammed said in a letter to the security firms.

The PSRA said the audit was prompted by numerous complaints from private security officers, adding that preliminary investigations revealed that the over 1.3 million guards had contributed billions of shillings to COTU, and which could not be adequately accounted for.

“The Authority, with the aim of protecting the welfare and rights of over 1.3 million private security guards, has instituted an investigation on the collection and use of all finances that have been deducted and remitted to COTU by private security companies,” Mahammed said.

Mahammed however said that though the guards had made significant financial contributions, COTU has not lived up to its mandate and has persistently disregarded, declined, and/or neglected to advocate for their rights, advocate for compliance with minimum wage and promote their general welfare.

“As outlined in COTU’s constitutive document, part of the organization core mandate is to represent the voices of workers and actively fight for their social and economic welfare,” Mahammed said.

Atwoli has however dismissed the directive saying such orders can only be made by the union members or the respective union.

Atwoli further said the union dues received from Private Security Workers, through their Union’s Affiliation to COTU (K), is as a consequence of a Gazette Notice by the Ministry of Labour, dated 2nd September 2016, considering the labour laws and the requirements of the constitution of COTU (K).

“It must be remembered that COTU (K) is a free and Independent Trade Union that is neither regulated by Private Security Regulatory Authority nor any other Government Agency,” Atwoli said.