Secretary General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Kenya), COTU (K), Francis Atwoli, has sharply criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over what it terms as reckless and misleading statements regarding the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
In an official letter dated Sunday, June 8, 2025, Atwoli accused the former deputy president of economic sabotage, stating that urging workers to withdraw their savings from the fund was not only irresponsible but a direct threat to national financial stability.
He further called on the government to consider taking appropriate legal action against Gachagua for what he described as outrageous, careless, and irresponsible statements.
In addition, the COTU boss claimed that Gachagua was attempting to politicise the management of workers’ funds by implying that NSSF money was being misappropriated through investments in public infrastructure projects such as roads.
“COTU (K), wishes to strongly condemn the reckless, false, and irresponsible statements made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua regarding the management and use of workers’ funds at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Gachagua’s claim that NSSF funds are being misappropriated through investments in roads and the construction of public infrastructure is not only a distortion of the facts but also a dangerous attempt to politicise a critical institution that safeguards the future of millions of Kenyan workers,” Atwoli said.
“We wish to remind Gachagua that social security is a serious matter and not a political playground. It is, therefore, very reckless and outrightly malicious for Gachagua to call upon Kenyan workers to withdraw their funds with the aim of collapsing NSSF. If anything, the utterances by Gachagua border on economic sabotage, and we call upon the Government of Kenya to consider taking appropriate legal action against him for these outrageous, careless and irresponsible statements.”
Atwoli went on to say that the union was more prudent and secure for NSSF to invest in government infrastructure rather than engage in questionable dealings with individuals like Gachagua.
“We wish to remind Gachagua that it is far better and more secure for NSSF to invest in government infrastructure than to engage in questionable dealings with individuals like him. As a point of reference, NSSF in Tanzania has successfully invested in national development projects such as the construction of government offices, the University of Dodoma, hotels, international airports, and even embassies,” Atwoli said.
“NSSF in Uganda has been used in the erection and distribution of power lines, while pension funds in South Africa have also been used in the building of national infrastructure like the road from Pretoria to Maputo. These are not only strategic investments that guarantee returns but also secure national assets for future generations.”
NSSF’s Board
Atwoli also clarified that he is no longer a board member of NSSF, noting that his term expired in 2021 and he was lawfully replaced, adding that it was misleading and dishonest for Gachagua to imply that he (Atwoli) is involved in current investment decisions at the Fund.
“For the record, the Secretary General of COTU (K), Francis Atwoli (the undersigned), is no longer a board member of NSSF, taking in account that his term expired in 2021 and he was lawfully replaced. It is, therefore, misleading and dishonest for Gachagua to insinuate that the Secretary General is involved in current decisions regarding NSSF’s investments,” Atwoli added.
