The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) leadership yesterday launched the crusade for the unconditional reinstatement of the Civil Servants Union.

In a bid to increase the number of affiliates, the Cotu secretary-general, Mr Joseph Mugalla impassioned the Kenya National Union of Teachers to work with Cotu fully "in order to consolidate the voice of workers in this country".

In a speech read by deputy secretary-general Boniface Munyao to mark Labour Day, the Ikolomani MP urged the President to ignore Kenyan employers calling for the establishment of an Industrial Court of Appeal.

Presently, the court hierarchy lacks an appeal court to handle industrial disputes. "This (establishment of an Industrial Court of Appeal) will not only be beyond the reach of the poor workers but will also introduce a cumbersome legal process that will deny the workers their natural justice."

He spoke of the need by unions to incorporate different sets of workers.

"A strategy must be found by working together to reconcile the diverse and sometimes conflicting interests of these groups."

He said poverty was soaring fast, to the point that an additional 500,000 people get below the poverty line annually.

Mr Mugalla was said to be indisposed and could not attend the meeting. His apologies were tendered by Mr Munyao.

Mr Munyao said the poverty situation in the country has been fanned by "massive retrenchment, redundancies and casualisation of employment through trade liberalisation and reduction of government subsidies".

The soaring levels of unemployment and poverty have been exacerbated by Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) being implemented under the aegis of the Bretton Woods institutions.

Mr Munyao renewed the movement's belief that every Kenyan is entitled to a decent and free life.

"We also believe that it is the role of the State to create an enabling environment where every citizen, including workers, can freely realise the full potential given to them by God.''

He expressed hope that the Poverty Eradication Commission will involve the poor in formulating solutions for combating poverty.

He urged the stakeholders in the constitutional review process to avoid suspicion and mistrust and, instead, surrender to guidance by patriotism and vigilance.

Giving an example of the Industrial Relations Charter, he urged the government to review the laws that are obsolete and irrelevant to the modern labour market requirements.

Mr Munyao singled out the Industrial Relations Charter which was last reviewed in 1980 as the one that needs urgent attention. "The charter needs to be reviewed and made into an Act of Parliament so as to ensure more free social dialogue and and tripartite consensus between workers, employers and the government''.

He also spoke of the need for urgent solution to the HIV/Aids pandemic which has decimated many Kenyans and corruption which has stultified the growth of the Kenyan economy.