KUPPET, UASU on Registrar’s radar over disputed constitutions ahead of polls

A directive by the Registrar of Trade Unions has upended plans by top officials of Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) to use disputed constitutions in next year’s elections.

In a circular sent to unions, employer bodies and federations, acting Registrar Ann Kanake stated that elections must be conducted strictly under constitutions registered with the Labour Office.

“Any amended constitutions whose implementation has been barred by a court order are not to be used for these elections unless the court issues an alternative order,” the circular reads.

The directive hits KUPPET secretary-general Akello Misori, who had pushed through constitutional changes that removed the age limit for union leaders and restricted voting rights at the national level to branch officials.

The amendments, currently facing a legal challenge, were widely seen as a strategy to help long-serving officials retain control. The Employment and Labour Relations Court issued conservatory orders stopping the implementation of the new rules.

UASU’s secretary-general, Dr Constantine Wasonga, is also affected. Attempts by some officials to scrap the two-term limit for the secretary-general position were blocked by the court.

Having already served two terms, Wasonga will not be eligible to run if the ban on the amendments remains in place.

This development means both Kuppet and Uasu will be forced to hold their 2026 elections under the old constitutions unless the courts rule otherwise. The decision effectively blocks Misori and Wasonga from seeking another term.

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