COTU Boss Francis Atwoli Warns Treasury CS Mbadi Against Blindly Following IMF Advice

Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has issued a stern warning to newly appointed Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, urging caution in dealings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Atwoli's warning comes after a meeting on August 14 between Mbadi and IMF Representative Selim Cakir, ahead of a planned disbursement of over Ksh181 billion to Kenya.

Atwoli cautioned that accepting IMF advice without scrutiny could worsen financial hardships for ordinary Kenyans, drawing parallels to past administrations that approached IMF recommendations with caution. He emphasized the risks of harsh austerity measures, such as increased taxation, which could lead to social unrest.