PHOTO/COURTESY Embakasi East MP Babu Owino
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has today condemned the reported arrest of Kenya Aviation Workers Union,Secretary General,Moss Ndiema.
This comes after the reports captured by the media that he was arrested for leading protests to stop plans to hand over Kenya Airports Authority operations to Kenya Airways..
The KAA workers downed their tools at midnight leading to disruption of flights.
The Transport CS James Macharia addressed the matter saying that the strike is illegal and therefore action will be taken against the workers who interfered with normalcy.
Babu Owino however expressed his full support for the KAA striking staff saying that he stands together with them to oppose the JKIA takeover.
The Vocal MP said that the arrest of the Secretary General of the union is illegal and unconstitutional.
Some Kenyans had earlier expressed their concerns saying that workers have a right to peaceful demonstrations to express their grievances. Babu Owino also urged workers not to feel intimidated.
He also vowed to initiate a dialogue and revealed that he is in the process of seeking out the relevant stakeholders including the CS Transport James Macharia, the CS Treasury Henry Rotich, the Management of KQ and KAA as well as the Unions to come to the table and all agree that they do not to fix what is not broken.
Transport CS James Macharia says that a couple weeks ago, he met with the KAWU members who agreed to lift the strike after they were given the government’s assurance.
Macharia says that what they fear is that the proposed KAA-KQ merger will result in job losses.
Transport CS James Macharia
Babu Owino had earlier urged the President to dismiss the proposal of JKIA takeover by KQ management.
He also maintains that his stand is till the same and intentional to defend the workers secure their jobs.