Francis Atwoli Asks William Ruto To Fire Treasury CS Ndung'u Over Broke Govt Remarks

• Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli said Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u was instilling fear in Kenyans
• Atwoli said Ndung'u should be giving hope to Kenyans and not telling them the country lacks the resources to fund its projects
• Appearing before lawmakers, the Treasury CS said the government was broke to the point of having difficulty in paying salaries

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Kisumu - The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has criticised National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u over his remarks on the state of the economy.

Why Atwoli wants CS Ndung'u sacked

Speaking in Kisumu on Saturday, December 9, Atwoli urged President William Ruto to fire Ndung'u for publicly claiming the Kenya Kwanza government lacks resources to finance key programmes.

According to Atwoli, the Treasury CS, who is supposed to be the bearer of hopes for Kenyans, was busy instilling fear in them by saying the country was broke.

The outspoken trade unionist said Ndung'u should be at the forefront of looking for solutions to the current economic crisis instead of complaining.

“You have asked us to pay for housing levy; where are those houses? You have asked us to pay more taxes, and KRA is on our necks; where is this money going? We know we have external debts Calculate them and let us know if Ndung’u comes out with the report…not to cry the way he was crying…’ this government is broke, I cannot even be able to pay salaries…we’re struggling.

"If I were (President William Ruto) I would sack him the following day! Because yeye ndio mama, anaambia watoto eti sasa hii nyumba sijui mtakula nini…you’re instilling fear!” Atwoli said.

CS Ndung'us says the government is broke

As reported earlier, Ndung'u admitted the Kenya Kwanza administration was having a problem raising revenue.

Appearing before the National Assembly Finance Committee on Wednesday, December 6, Ndung'u said the public coffers are running low on cash, making it difficult to meet the government's financial goals.

Ndung'u stated that the Kenya Kwanza administration was struggling to pay salaries for civil servants due to the unavailability of funds.

"NG-CDF will be released as soon as the government has enough funds; at the moment, we are not getting taxes as required, and the government is having challenges paying salaries, so please bear with us; we are working around the clock to make things work," Ndung'u told MPs.