Campaigns Heat Up Ahead of August 13 Dock Workers Union Elections

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Former Dock Workers Union (DWU) assistant general secretary Abubakar Mohammed Abdullahi is already in a campaign trail ahead of the election. He is the only aspirant so far who has declared his interest to replace embattled Simon Sang as general secretary. 

Efforts to get comments from Suliman Otieno Owuor as well as from Salim Kumaka who is in management were futile as our calls went unanswered. We managed to obtain the DWU constitution which states that for one to vie for the position of general secretary one must be an outsider and that it is mandatory for any employee to resign with prior notice to the management. 

Abubakar has intensified his campaigns by traversing the estates to woo for votes ahead of the August 13 poll. He is among those dismissed from employment at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) alongside other union officials following an illegal strike during former KPA Managing Director the late Francis Gichiri Ndua's tenure as Managing Director under retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration. 

The union elections come after Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) judge siting in Mombasa, Justice Ocharo Kebira nullified the election of Suliman as the General Secretary to replace Sang. He directed the giant DWU to conduct fresh election in line with their constitution. Justice Kebira had directed the DWU to conduct its election within 60 days of the court judgment. 

"The DWU election has to be in line with the constitutional principle and values and relevant statutory stipulations with directed period," the court  said. The ELRC judge declared that the election carried out in April after Sang was kicked out by the court was a sham and therefore null and void.

 Justice Kebira said in his judgment that the Registrar of Trade Unions had admitted that after the purported elections he received several objections to the same but went ahead to register the officials who were alleged to have been elected.

 DWU national chairman Mohammed Mwasera has declared the much-awaited union election to be held on August 13. In a circular issued to 5000 union members he said the notice is an important update of the poll next month. He disclosed to members that the decision is as a result of a judgment by the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC). 

Eligible members  have been advised to participate peacefully and responsibly to express their democratic space on the material day. The DWU national chairman called for calm and the upholding of the union's unity and discipline including the rule of law. 

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