A judicial hammer has fallen on the planned KUDHEIHA national elections, throwing the powerful union into a state of paralysis and uncertainty.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nakuru has issued definitive conservatory orders halting the elections that were scheduled for February 28. The ruling comes as a severe blow to the current leadership, exposing deep structural rifts and allegations of malpractice within the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA). At the center of the storm is a petition filed by aspirants Yoya and Ole Keyua, who claim the democratic process has been hijacked.

Constitutional Violations Alleged

The petitioners argue that the election process was fundamentally flawed from the outset. They accuse Secretary-General Albert Njeru of unilaterally setting the election date and failing to publish the crucial list of delegates, effectively blinding the opposition. This lack of transparency, they argue, violates the union’s own constitution and the basic tenets of fair representation.

• The Nakuru Ruling: The court’s decision effectively freezes the status quo, preventing any leadership transition until the legal disputes are resolved. This leaves the union in a leadership limbo.
• The Allegations: Beyond the procedural errors, there are serious claims of intimidation targeting aspirants for national positions. The petitioners describe a climate of fear designed to entrench the incumbents.
• The Stakes: With over 120,000 members across critical sectors like education and health, KUDHEIHA is a titan of the labour movement. Its instability threatens the industrial harmony of multiple industries.

A House Divided

The suspension is a symptom of a deeper malaise. A union divided against itself cannot stand, and KUDHEIHA is currently fighting a war on two fronts: one in the courtroom and one in the court of public opinion. Secretary-General Njeru, who had sought court approval to proceed, now finds his administration under a microscope.

As the case moves to a mention on March 12, the rank-and-file members are left waiting. They demand a union that fights for their rights, not one consumed by its own internal power struggles. For now, the ballot boxes remain sealed, and the gavel reigns supreme.