Kenya is an usual country in that it is one of the countries where the number of workers joining trade union movements is actually on the decrease, unlike in the 1960s and 1970s where the future of those who were just employed used to start by joining a trade union. But today joining a trade union in Kenya is an act of self-destruction, an act of suicide by itself. Kenyan workers obviously have very little or have lost faith completely where trade union matters are concerned.

It is the workers affiliated to trade unions who are the first to be made redundant when there is a crisis in an institution or an industry. They have often been harassed, intimidated, demoted and finally dismissed from employment. And when those unionized workers seek help from their trade unions which is supposed to assist and take cases for them, the miserable and frustrated workers will hit a dead end there as well.

THE CONDITION OF KENYA’S WORKING CLASS TODAY

Over three quarters of the total labor force in Kenya are of the lower cadre and are the most oppressed section of the working class, earn low wages and experience poor working conditions. Naturally they are the worst hit by the Kenyan economic crisis. Most are finding it difficult to bear the burden of inflation and to make ends meet because of the sprawling price increases of basic commodities and services, while their meagre pay packets remain the same. In Kenya today, an ordinary worker has to do an extra job like hawking in a work place just to survive. Some even beg in their work place.

VIOLATION OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS ACROSS ALL SECTORS

Take a long journey across Kenya, in the construction sites, where roads and buildings are being constructed, move on to industrial areas where goods are being manufactured, then take a turn to the service sectors, in the hospitals, schools, homesteads and hotels, and then finally to the agricultural sector, in the flower farms, tea farms, sugar farms and sisal farms. Look at the gestures of workers and their movements, you will notice exploitation and violation of workers’ rights. And to make the matter worse, if workers in these sectors suspect you to be a trade union official, instead of embracing you they will escape like doves that rise up with a great rattle of wings when attacked by a cat. How much is this necessary in a country that is fortunate to have the largest and most experienced working class in Africa?

LOSS OF CONFIDENCE IN TRADE UNIONS

Kenyan workers have lost trust in trade union movements. At every turn workers are confronted not only by the dictatorial employers and corrupt government labor officials but also by their trade unions. There is a genuine concern that trade unions and its leadership have failed to protect workers and that trade unions are dens of corruption.

In the recent past almost all trade unions in Kenya were started and registered not by true agents of change but by individuals who are unemployable and incapable of self-employment who formed trade unions as a personal investment for future rewards, where they could loot, cheat and threaten employers and manipulate workers all for private and selfish gains at the expense of the common good of the workers. Workers have been denied a fair and equal treatment in running these trade unions which is suppose to offer them a method of resolving some burning grievances.

TYRANNICAL UNIONS

These trade unions are not democratic, not workers friendly, they are experiencing the old style trade unionism with the union office regarded as sort of a lawyers’ office, and the union secretary as the only man who could take up complaints. Usually workers fail to get any justice, illegally dismissed from employment without wages, leave and over time allowances. Some have even been forced to resign or retired after being sexually harassed or getting pregnant without terminal gratuity and without certificate or recommendation letter.

Some have even been ejected from their servant quarters without notice while others are sacked without compensation after being injured or get illnesses arising in the work place. Some claim that their monthly contribution towards National Social Security Fund [NSSF"> and National Hospital Insurance Fund [NHIF"> were not being remitted by their employers, while their cases are often crushed by their trade unions itself. Most unionized workers cry or complain about betrayal by their trade union after its officials have been compromised.

Kenya is changing and changing very fast in an era of globalization, but Kenya’s trade unions are still captive of an old style operation where by old guards are not willing to relinquish space to young and energetic cadre to continue with the long process of fighting for workers’ rights. This has made young Kenyan workers to stay away from trade union movements.

KENYAN WORKERS NEED TO REVIVE A GENUINE LABOUR MOVEMENT

Solidarity, the fundamental rationale for trade unionism is completely dead in Kenya. Trade unions have been sub-divided into nitty-gritty trade unions by the government in a divide and rule policy, while the Federation of Kenyan Employers [FKE">remains one mighty union of oppressing employers. The Central Organization of Trade Unions[COTU"> that purports to be an umbrella body of Kenyan workers is a toothless bull-dog.

Workers unions in construction, agriculture, manufacturing and service industry do not network for solidarity in case of an industrial dispute in any of the sectors. The legal industrial strike of workers in one sector is not a problem to the other and vice-versa ,while trade unions stand aside from workers and blatantly betray workers as employers and government labor officials declare every legal strike a wild cat strike. Trade unions are particularly notorious for not protecting workers.

The condition of Kenyan workers is a modern version of human exploitation that conjures images of serfdom and slavery. Kenyan workers must put an end to this. They must do right thing. They must understand that their children will not inherit a stable, safe and sustainable world unless they change the terrible condition of the labour movement.

Julius Okoth is a social justice activist and involved in the Bunge la mwananchi social movement

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