The Banking Insurance Finance Union (BIFU) under ruler-for-life Secretary General Isaiah Kubai is doing elections ‘chini ya maji’.
On the 25th September 2020, the Registrar of Trade Unions Ms Elizabeth Gicheha wrote to all Trade Unions notifying them to prepare for the election scheduled for 2021.
“As you are aware, section 34 of the Labour Relations Act, provides that elections for all registered trade unions, employers’ organizations and Federations shall be conducted at least once every five years, starting at the branch level”, the letter began.
The letter also addressed employers’ organizations and federations.
The term of office of officials for all trade unions, employers’ Organizations and Federations is five years.
However, Kubai who has led then shadowy outfit since 1986 usurped power in 2016 when he was removed through a proper election that was done by delegates chosen from the staff of representative financial institutions.
The financial industry staff in 2016 elected the following; Secretary-General Duncan Muthusi, Deputy Secretary-General Gabriel Okomo and Organizing Secretary Alphonce Were, but Kubai clung to power shielded by the central Kenya elite.
Elizabeth Gicheha as the Registrar of Trade Unions is one of those elites protecting incompetence and impunity on lost of the trade unions including going mute when Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is illegally killing Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT).
Time Is Up: Embattled Banking Union Boss Isaiah Kubai Loses Court Cases
Sources tell cnyakundi.com that BIFU which doesn’t have membership register (Kubai runs it like a kiosk), physical branch offices (this is a briefcase outfit), books of account (he hid this and when forced by the court, he released a fake one despite getting over Sh5 million as member contributions every month), is already selecting officials to be presented to Elizabeth Gicheha as elected officials.
We have no doubt that Ms Gicheha will not go against the tribe and will certify this fraud as legit.
Isaiah Kubai has been defeated in court by the aforementioned trio a couple of times. One was when he was ordered to release important union documents, which he failed to do, and in some cases released fake ones, deceiving the court.
Kubai doesn’t represent the interest of financial industry workers as he has been accused of bribing judges, colluding with, especially banks to have staff fired with no consequences to the banks.
Sham (s)elections
Kubai is said to be doing election without following due procedure. Of course, no one expected him to; considering that there’s no proper membership records (national and branch), no physical branch offices/location, books of accounts etc.
Sources, however, say BIFU elections will be conducted by end month, on 30th January 2021.
He hasn’t informers members of the venue and time.
According to Gicheha’s letter, branch elections shall be held from 4th January 2021 to 31st March 2021. National elections shall be held from it April 2021 to 31s, June 2021.
‘This (the above) deadline must be met as the elections of officials of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) (K) and Trade Unions Congress of Kenya (TUC) (K) must be held before 30th August 2021.
Elizabeth Gicheha: Impunity at the Registrar of Trade Union’s office
Gicheha says that all’ Trade Unions, employers’ organizations and federations operate strictly within the provisions of their registered Constitutions and more specifically, ensure conformity in terms of notice to all members of the date, time, and venue of the elections’, knowing too well that Isaiah Kubai doesn’t meet all the above.
If Ms Gicheha acted as per the law, proper people would by now be heading BIFU not this sham.
But question is, how much does he receive to keep Isaiah Kubai in power?
