The Employment and Labour Relations Court has nullified the election of officials to the lecturers' union, Kenyatta University chapter.
Justice James Rika ruled that the Universities and Academic Staff Union (Uasu), KU Chapter elections held on March 25, 2021 were not fair as some members did not participate.
Four lecturers had moved to court challenging the legality and fairness of the elections arguing that 147 members were excluded from participating, contrary to the advice of the Registrar of Trade Unions.
They accused the Chapter's Secretary General of running away with the register before scrutiny, thereby denying them a chance to confirm and verify those who had paid agency fees.
Justice Rika noted that members of the union who wished to update their subscription could not do so as the officials closed the office on December 17, 2020, blocking them from participating in the elections.
"The incumbents rejected the counsel of its own election board and the registrar, resulting in disenfranchising of legitimate members,” the ruling read in part.
He explained the annulment stating that the electoral process did not meet the set standards.
Rika stated that the election risked being reversed and that no candidate would claim success in a flawed process.
The judge directed the Registrar of Trade Unions not to register the March poll results and called for fresh elections within 60 days.
He ordered that the voters' register be updated to the concurrence of UASU chairman KU chapter and the Register of Trade Unions.
