Migori Senator Eddy Oketch alleges collusion in union leadership

Migori Senator Eddy Oketch. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Migori Senator Eddy Oketch has raised concerns over what he perceives as a lack of democracy within union leadership, asserting that entrenched leaders make it challenging for members to remove them from office while wielding significant control over union finances.

In an interview on Spice FM on Wednesday, May 1, the Senator criticised the absence of term limits within union leadership, arguing that this loophole allows leaders to perpetuate their tenure indefinitely.

"The leadership of these unions must implement term limits. The current labor act leaves it open for union members to potentially opt not to elect their leaders," Oketch stated.

He highlighted collusion among union leaders as a barrier to genuine elections, claiming that such alliances often result in what he termed "pseudo elections."

The senator further lamented the concentration of power among certain union officials, who, he alleged, can mobilize resources to secure reelection.

In response to these concerns, Senator Oketch has introduced an amendment to the Labour Relations Bill aimed at imposing term limits on union and employer officials.

"The principal objective of the Bill is to establish the term of office for officials of trade unions, employers' organizations, or federations and to outline requirements for registering a trade union," the Bill states.

Under the proposed law, officials would be limited to serving no more than two terms, with their tenure commencing upon election and ending upon the election of a successor.

Senator Oketch's proposed legislation has been submitted for introduction in the Senate, where it will undergo public participation to gather feedback from stakeholders.