Union row intensifies as faction opposes resolution
Dock Workers Union vice chairman Gunda Kaneno (in red shirt) is restrained by fellow members during a commotion after secretary-general Simon Sang's speech was interrupted, during their annual meeting at Bandari College on October 22, 2017. Some members want Mr Sang to resign. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Nyaguti claimed that Mr Sang suspended the officials after they complained about misappropriation of funds.
- A member said new officials should be elected because the current ones are engaging in politics.
Leadership wrangles at the Dock Workers Union might be headed to the courts after a faction opposed to secretary-general Simon Sang said it did not recognize a special general meeting held on Sunday.
The union has been hit by wrangles with some members accusing Mr Sang of mismanagement, demanding that he resigns.
The union has also been mudded by political interests that have threatened to tear it apart.
FUNDS MISUSE
Mr Joseph Nyaguti, a shop steward, who leads the splinter group, vowed to block any resolution that was arrived at during the chaotic AGM held at Bandari College.
Three such meetings have been aborted after a section of members protested that Mr Sang had misappropriated funds.
They also alleged that three officials – Mohamed Sheria (chairman), Gunda Kaneno (vice chairman) and treasurer Joseph Makero – were suspended without following due process.
SUSPENSION
Mr Nyaguti claimed that Mr Sang suspended the officials after they complained about misappropriation of union funds and “nominated a clique of board members whom he has been using to endorse his shady dealings”.
“We want the officials reinstated and the nominated ones thrown out because we cannot allow Sang to run the affairs of the union as though it is his personal property,” Mr Nyaguti said Monday.
NOMINATED MEMBERS
But Mr Sang told the members it would not be easy to remove the nominated officials, saying the exercise was done “above board”.
“If they think it is easy to remove nominated officials and reinstate the suspended ones at will, they should forget it.
"We have to follow the constitution. Before suspension a tribunal was set up to give them a chance to be heard,” he said in a telephone interview.
The secretary-general accused the suspended officials of demanding removal of nominated officials so that the slots can be filled with people of their choice.
“There is a criteria for nominating six members of the board so as to cater for interest groups,” Mr Sang said, adding that Tuesday’s (October 24) meeting will be properly secured to ward off “goons” from disrupting it.
POLITICS
The tussle took a new twist Monday when Mr Musa Jaka, a member of the union, said the entire office should be disbanded and new officials elected because the current ones are engaging in politics, which is not allowed.
While Mr Sang is aligned to the Jubilee Party and is pushing for the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta, Mr Sheria supports Nasa leader Raila Odinga.
The two leaders have signed separate MoUs with the parties.
“Sang and Sheria are misleading workers because according to the rules of KPA, employees are not supposed to express their political inclinations publicly,” he said.
