Cotu chiefs yesterday called for the reinstatement National Social Security Fund chief Jos Konzolo or else workers countrywide would go on strike.

During a meeting in Eldoret town, 12 workers' organisations under the umbrella of Cotu said they would meet as soon as Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli returned from an oversees trip to map out a strike.

Led by Cotu national vice-chairman, the Rev Joel Chebii, and North Rift Kenya Tailoring and Textile Workers Union vice-chairman, Mr Ezra Ochuka, the trade unionists said Mr Konzolo's removal was uncalled-for as he had helped safeguard workers' savings and pensions.

"Mr Konzolo's tenure at the NSSF was tremendous. He tried to bring the NSSF back on the right track. He did a good job enabling workers to be paid promptly unlike before when it took even a year," said the Rev Chebii, who is a nominated councillor in the Eldoret Municipal Council.

The leaders said that as NSSF stakeholders due, they want the government to explain why Mr Konzolo was fired.

If not, they would first stop remitting money to the organisation and then call a nationwide strike.

"Cotu is now a different entity. We have learnt from previous mistakes when officials looted the organisation and were let to go scot-free. We cannot sit back and watch the same thing happening again," the Rev Chebii said.

Cotu National Executive Council would sit and decide whether it should withdraw two two officials who sit on the NSSF board – the secretary-general and the chairman.

The trade union leaders passed a vote of no confidence in Mr Konzolo's replacement, Mr Ben Mtweta, "because we don't know him and why he should be brought to replace somebody who has been at NSSF for a short time but has done a good job.'

The leaders linked Mr Konzolo's removal with the upcoming General Election, saying they believed some people wanted to loot the organisation's coffers for their political campaigns.

"It is saddening that some people want to deny poor workers their dues when they retire," Mr Ochuka said.

The trade unionists recalled that NSSF had been mismanaged before Mr Konzolo's appointment, leading to poor investments.

They expressed worry that Mr Konzolo's removal could scare away investors and destabilise the economy.

They asked why government officials implicated in the numerous scandals were left to continue holding office "while those who do their job well are fired."