Movement Monitor

The Technical University of Kenya (TUK) was closed indefinitely on February 3, 2025, due to a prolonged lecturers' strike. Led by the unions UASU and KUSU, the strike demands better pay, working conditions, and remittance of deductions. Union leaders are urging the national government to address funding issues and take over salary payments.

Since June 2024, Kenya has witnessed a disturbing surge in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, sparking a groundswell of activism across the country. Human rights organizations like Missing Voices, the Kenya Human Rights Commission, and grassroots coalitions have come together in solidarity, mobilizing protests, conducting investigations, and amplifying the voices of the affected families. These movements have become a powerful force, holding the government accountable for the loss of innocent lives and demanding justice for the victims who have been unlawfully silenced.

In a landmark decision, the Employment and Labor Relations Court ruled that transferring workers away from their families for punitive reasons is unlawful, marking a victory for labor rights in the country. The court emphasized the importance of protecting employees' family lives. This ruling reinforces workers' rights and aligns with broader labor movements across Africa advocating for more humane workplace policies.

Teachers in six counties in the North Rift are threatening to strike over reduced healthcare facilities offered by their insurance provider, Minet. Led by their unions KNUT and KUPPET, they are demanding the restrictions be lifted within 24 hours or face a go-slow starting February 5. The issue has severely impacted teachers with chronic illnesses who cannot access regular care.

After a two-month delay, the National Assembly has approved seven members to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). Their mandate is to harmonize public sector salaries while maintaining fiscal responsibility, with a focus on collaboration rather than targeting politicians.

KUPPET is advocating for constitutional amendments to improve representation for marginalized groups, including gender, persons with disabilities, and regional diversity. Despite the rejection by the Registrar of Trade Unions due to procedural issues, KUPPET plans to resubmit the amendments through proper channels.

On January 19, local traders protested along Jogoo Road after their shops near Mbotela Estate were demolished, resulting in significant losses. The traders, mostly women, accused a private developer of ignoring a court order and forcefully taking over land they had worked on since the 1960s.

The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) and other government agencies met with the National Assembly’s Committee on Administration and Security to challenge the ratification of Assembly and Demonstration Bill (2024), which seeks to restrict public demonstrations and strengthen law enforcement. The pushback against the bill highlights concerns about the potential weakening of constitutional rights, particularly the freedom of assembly.

The Court of Appeal has approved the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) and Registrar of Trade Unions’ decision to reject the registration of a trade union for salt workers. The Registrar of Trade Unions refused the salt workers’ application due to the existence of the Kenya Chemical Workers Union (KCWU), which is said to represent the interests of workers that manufacture industrial chemicals, including salt. Although the salt workers argued that the ELRC was at fault for assuming the workers and the Registrar of Unions had known about the existence of the KCWU with no objections, the Court ruled that the Registrar’s rejection was in line with national labor laws, stating that the workers had sufficient opportunities to access information on registering trade unions under the Labor Relations Act.