<p><strong>In summary</strong></p>
<p>Two key officials, who are entangled in KNUT supremacy battles, have been ordered to appear in court and respond to contempt of court charges.</p>
<p>These are the current KNUT chair and registrar of trade unions.</p>
<p>This followed the court’s historic ruling yesterday which dismissed the oust of KNUT’s Secretary General Wilson Sossion as illegal.</p>
<p><strong>OMUCHENYI SUMMONED</strong><br />
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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>The two are expected to explain why the wheel of justice must not turn.</p>
<p>Judge Byrum Ongaya had on 28th August halted the convening of KNUT’S executive council meeting which had been scheduled for 29th August.</p>
<p>This is because the meeting aimed to oust Sossion.</p>
<p><strong>SOSSION&#8217;S &#8220;MISDEMEANOUR&#8221;</strong><br />
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.</p>
<p>The council thus resolved to remove Sossion based on gross misconduct.</p>
<p>Some of the allegations levelled against Mr Sossion include:</p>
<p>1. Sacking full-time employees without consulting NEC.</p>
<p>2. Sending full-time employees on compulsory leave.</p>
<p>3. Issuing strike notices before consulting the relevant stakeholders.</p>
<p>4. Recruitment of full-time employees single-handedly.</p>
<p>5. Ignoring decisions made by NEC and failure to implement them.</p>
<p>Mr Sossion, therefore, challenged the move to throw him out of the KNUT union and was temporarily reinstated as the secretary-general.</p>
<p>He further added that only the annual delegates’ conference, which will be held in December, has the mandate to remove him from office.</p>
<p><strong>IN PART:</strong><br />
<strong>PROPOSED SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION BILL IS UNCALLED FOR</strong><br />
Moses Injendi, a Malava Member of Parliament has sponsored a bill which seeks to curtail the freedom of speech that Kenyans have been enjoying.</p>
<p>The proposed bill requires blogs, facebook and WhatsApp groups to be duly registered.</p>
<p>Besides, the aforementioned groups should pay a given fee for licenses, regulate content and only approve adults to join these groups.</p>
<p>The bill further tightens the nut. Failure to comply attracts a penalty of sh 200,000 or imprisonment for a year.</p>
<p>Those found posting “dirty” or “horrific” content online shall pay a penalty of Sh 500,000 or a two-year jail term.<br />
This bill aims to limit social media ch</p>
<p>annels, the only platforms where Kenyans can interact freely without fear of intimidation.</p>
<p>If the bill passes for a law, it will bring forth a very huge setback in the development of democracy.</p>
<p>It is also likely to promote a monopoly of information. Surely, can’t Kenyans for once have something worth celebrating?</p>
<p>Kenyans will not like to walk down the path of its neighbour Tanzania.</p>
<p>In 2015, Tanzania came up with a Cybercrimes Law which was aimed at curbing cybercrimes.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the law has been used against the very citizens that it seeks to protect.</p>
<p>It has been used to perpetuate oppression by silencing dissenting voices, journalists and anyone who dares question government decisions or policies.</p>
<p>The big question is, are Kenyan’s ready to repress their independent opinions and feelings?</p>

