Naivasha flower farm workers concerned over job losses

Flower farm workers in Naivasha are up in arms over lack of leadership and presentation by their trade unions.

In the wake of massive job losses and earnings in the sector due to COVID-19 pandemic, the workers have hit out at COTU and its top leadership for failing to act on their grievances.

The workers from various farms pointed an accusing finger at the Kenya Plantations and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) for their continued suffering.

Since the pandemic was reported in the country, tens of workers have lost their jobs while hundreds of others have been sent home on unpaid leave.

According to Jane Nzilani from Oserian flower farm, over 800 workers were sent home but the union had failed to act.

Nzilani hit out at COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli for engaging in politics as the workers continued to suffer.

“Many workers have lost their jobs while others have been sent home on unpaid leave yet Atwoli is busy politicking as we suffer,” she said.

She added that the flower company was recruiting new workers at a lower salary adding that they were not sure of their fate.

The sentiments were echoed by the workers representative Kiprop Kosgey who said that the workers were going through untold suffering.

According to him, cases of prostitution and marital differences in estates where the workers were living had risen to alarming levels.

“We had pegged our hope on Atwoli but he is busy in BBI politics as we suffer and it’s time for change of leadership,” he said.

He noted that the top leaders in COTU were busy engaged in 2022 politics while the political leadership in the county had gone silent as the workers suffered.

A former worker of Karuturi flower farm Andrew Akunda noted since 2016 when the company went under they had not received their savings.

He said that COTU promised to intervene but they were still waiting adding that time was ripe for new leadership in the country’s trade unions.

“The union bosses have turned to politics forgetting the workers who have obediently contributed every month to COTU,” he said.

But speaking on phone, KPAWU secretary general in Naivasha Ferdinand Juma dismissed the allegations and defended his bosses saying that they had done a lot to protect the workers.

“We entered into an agreement with the employers association that no workers will be sent home during the pandemic and this has been adhered to,” he said.