On Wednesday, Labour Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie issued a Gazette notice asking KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion to vacate his trade union office due to the fact that he is an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) nominated Member of Parliament.
However, Sossion rubbished the directive stating that only the Registrar of Trade Unions can strip any official of his position.
He accused CS Kandie of engaging in 'dirty politics' and reiterated that he would not resign.
[caption caption="Labour CS Phyllis Kandie"]
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“I can only regret that (Ms) Kandie is also engaging in the dirty politics," he was quoted by the Business Daily.
According to the Gazette notice, the 11 officials who currently hold public office were no longer officials at their respective trade unions.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) chairman Omboko Milemba was also mentioned as he was elected on August 8 to represent Emuhaya Constituency on Amani National Congress (ANC) ticket.
According to article 77 of the Constitution, a full-time State officer shall not participate in any other gainful employment and any appointed State officer shall not hold office in a political party.
“It is notified for general information of the public that the following persons, being state officers as per provisions of articles 77 and 260 of the Constitution cease to hold office immediately as trade union officials in their respective unions,” read the notice.
The list of teachers’ union officials named in the notice includes Nyeri Governor Edward Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri KNUT branch’s executive secretary), Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis (Koibatek KNUT executive secretary) and Ronald Tonui, the Bomet Central MP who is fighting a fierce court battle to retain his assistant national treasurer position in KUPPET.
Union of Kenya Civil Servants secretary-general Tom Odege (Nyatike MP), KUPPET national secretary in charge of gender Catherine Wambilyanga (Bungoma’s Woman Representative), and Ms Florence Bore (Kericho County Woman Representative), who was KUPPET Kericho branch secretary up till last year’s elections, have also been asked to vacate office.
[caption caption="KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion"]
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