Press Release on Situation in Kenya
Saturday, January 05, 2008 -
International Trade Union Confederation

The newly established pan-African trade union body, the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Unions Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has sent a message of
solidarity with the people of Kenya through its Kenyan affiliate, the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-Kenya), in the wake of post election violence.

The General Secretary of the new body, Mr. Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, says in the message that the ITUC-Africa has followed with keen interest and concern developments in Kenya following the 27 December 2007 Presidential Election results. He says that the ITUCAfrica is particularly worried over the situation in the last few days.

He notes that Media reports paint a grim picture of death of several people while thousands have been forced to find shelter in camps where they lack food, water and medicine amid post election violence. The General Secretary stresses that the violence that has engulfed Kenya for several days is taking its toll on ordinary men, women and children especially.

He expresses solidarity with COTU (K) and the entire people of Kenya at this hard time in the country. The General Secretary appeals for peace to ensure safety of innocent people facing danger. He calls on Kenyan authorities and all the players to initiate dialogue and consultations to examine possible ways and means of helping to find speedy solution to end the prevailing tension.

He suggests that there is urgent need for African Union (AU) to intervene; first on humanitarian issues to ensure that the internally displaced have food and medicine and that their security is guaranteed. It is also important that the underlying issues that have given rise to the situation are tackled in supreme interest of the country.

He again calls upon Kenyan authorities and all stakeholders to promote dialogue. He stresses that it would be most distressful if working men and women in Africa believed
that their interest, safety, security and rights could be threatened any time anywhere.