In summary
Two key officials, who are entangled in KNUT supremacy battles, have been ordered to appear in court and respond to contempt of court charges.
These are the current KNUT chair and registrar of trade unions.
This followed the court’s historic ruling yesterday which dismissed the oust of KNUT’s Secretary General Wilson Sossion as illegal.
OMUCHENYI SUMMONED
KNUT chairperson Wyckliffe Omuchenyi has been summoned before the court to explain why he defied and disregarded a court order which directed him to allow Wilson Sossion to continue serving as the Secretary-General of KNUT.
The employment and labour relations court found the aforementioned key officials guilty of contempt of court for going against court orders which were given on 28th August 2019.
The two are expected to explain why the wheel of justice must not turn.
Judge Byrum Ongaya had on 28th August halted the convening of KNUT’S executive council meeting which had been scheduled for 29th August.
This is because the meeting aimed to oust Sossion.
SOSSION’S “MISDEMEANOUR”
Sossion’s deputy Mr Hesborn Otieno has however sworn an affidavit saying that the meeting held by NEC as per the constitution of the union.
The council thus resolved to remove Sossion based on gross misconduct.
Some of the allegations levelled against Mr Sossion include:
1. Sacking full-time employees without consulting NEC.
2. Sending full-time employees on compulsory leave.
3. Issuing strike notices before consulting the relevant stakeholders.
4. Recruitment of full-time employees single-handedly.
5. Ignoring decisions made by NEC and failure to implement them.
Mr Sossion, therefore, challenged the move to throw him out of the KNUT union and was temporarily reinstated as the secretary-general.
He further added that only the annual delegates’ conference, which will be held in December, has the mandate to remove him from office.
IN PART:
PROPOSED SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION BILL IS UNCALLED FOR
Moses Injendi, a Malava Member of Parliament has sponsored a bill which seeks to curtail the freedom of speech that Kenyans have been enjoying.
The proposed bill requires blogs, facebook and WhatsApp groups to be duly registered.
Besides, the aforementioned groups should pay a given fee for licenses, regulate content and only approve adults to join these groups.
The bill further tightens the nut. Failure to comply attracts a penalty of sh 200,000 or imprisonment for a year.
Those found posting “dirty” or “horrific” content online shall pay a penalty of Sh 500,000 or a two-year jail term.
This bill aims to limit social media ch
annels, the only platforms where Kenyans can interact freely without fear of intimidation.
If the bill passes for a law, it will bring forth a very huge setback in the development of democracy.
It is also likely to promote a monopoly of information. Surely, can’t Kenyans for once have something worth celebrating?
Kenyans will not like to walk down the path of its neighbour Tanzania.
In 2015, Tanzania came up with a Cybercrimes Law which was aimed at curbing cybercrimes.
Unfortunately, the law has been used against the very citizens that it seeks to protect.
It has been used to perpetuate oppression by silencing dissenting voices, journalists and anyone who dares question government decisions or policies.
The big question is, are Kenyan’s ready to repress their independent opinions and feelings?
