Huge win for Wilson Sossion as court rules in his favour

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) secretary-general Wilson Sossion Friday sighed with relief after the Labour court allowed him to continue serving as the union’s boss and as nominated MP.

Mr Sossion had been sued by teachers, who sought to have him removed from the helm of Knut, saying the law does not allow him to hold two offices.

The petitioners were relying on an earlier Labour court decision where a union official serving as a treasurer was stopped from continuing to serve in that capacity after being elected MP.

Employment and Labour Relations Court Judge Maureen Onyango ruled that the Labour Relations Act distinguishes between the office of the secretary-general, and that of the treasurer.

“It is clear from the law that the secretary-general can be employed to hold more than one office as opposed to that of treasurer,” said justice Onyango.

The judge said Mr Sossion is nominated, and not elected. He is also not holding a constituency and will not therefore be unable to perform the two functions.

The petitioners were Kenneth Bande, James Ng’ang’a, Gladys Alemi, Lucas Oluoch, Elly Wafula, Elijah Maruga and Hellen Nderitu.