The battle for the Kenyan worker’s retirement security has erupted into a war of words. Francis Atwoli, the fiery Secretary General of COTU, has launched a blistering attack on the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), accusing them of sabotage, deceit, and "misleading" the public over the new NSSF contribution rates.

Atwoli’s outburst follows complaints by the FKE that the new Tier II NSSF deductions are shrinking the disposable income of employees who are already suffocating under the high cost of living. The veteran trade unionist is having none of it. In a strongly worded statement, he termed the employers' concerns as "alarmist" and accused them of crying crocodile tears for workers they have historically underpaid.

Mandatory, Not Negotiable

"Full implementation of the NSSF Act, 2013 is not optional, negotiable, or subject to selective obedience," Atwoli thundered. His argument is rooted in the law and the future. He posits that the previous deduction rates were a joke—a pittance that condemned retirees to poverty. The new rates, which see a significant jump in contributions matched by employers, are designed to build a meaningful safety net.

Atwoli sees the FKE’s resistance not as concern for workers’ take-home pay, but as a selfish attempt to avoid their statutory obligation to match the contributions. "It is deeply irresponsible for FKE to frame these statutory contributions as an attack on workers' livelihoods, while deliberately ignoring the long-term retirement benefits," he argued.

• Double Standards: Atwoli reminded the public that the same employers opposing NSSF deductions have consistently opposed minimum wage increases.
• The Law: The NSSF Act of 2013 was tied up in court for nearly a decade before being greenlit by the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Implementation is now a legal duty.
• The Stake: Atwoli insists that social security is a right, not a privilege, and that a "shrunk" payslip today is better than destitution in old age.

The Titanium Defender

Francis Atwoli has built his career on such confrontations. By telling FKE to "keep off workers' issues," he is drawing a line in the sand. He views COTU as the sole legitimate voice for the employee, and any interference from the employer’s lobby is viewed with deep suspicion.

The reality for the Kenyan worker is complex: the deductions do reduce immediate spending power. But Atwoli’s gamble is that in the long run, when the gray hairs appear, these same workers will thank him for forcing their bosses to pay up. For now, the message to FKE is clear: Pay up, shut up, and follow the law.