This archive report was first published on 2 October 2021.
At the Port of Mombasa, a battle is brewing between the Dock Workers Union (DWU) and those seeking to form a splinter union. DWU General Secretary Simon Sang has sounded the alarm, claiming that two top Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) managers and another official are behind the plan to form a Port Workers Union (PWU) to rival the 4,400-member DWU.
According to Sang, the sponsors of the splinter union want to weaken DWU for opposing the privatisation of the multi-billion shilling second container terminal at the port. He has informed the membership about this sinister motive and asked them to reject the plan.
However, former DWU General Secretary Alex Ndege has dismissed Sang's claims as rumours, stating that it is impossible to form a second union from the same sub-sector. Other former officials, including Abubakar Abdullahi and Joseph Makero, also denied any knowledge of plans to form a splinter group.
But Sang remains adamant, claiming that the plan is a replica of what happened before the June 24 union election, when some union officials were allegedly used to wreck the union. He has warned port workers that they will face the same fate as teachers, whose giant Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) was brought to its knees after division.
“To me, these forces are not necessarily going to succeed in forming a splinter union. They are interested in weakening DWU and ensure it is a lame duck. I have informed the membership about this sinister motive and asked them to reject the plan,” Sang said.
He also claimed that the plan was a scheme sponsored by agents who were opposed to a strong union and the solidarity they are witnessing. “The sponsors are from within and outside the industry. Three former officials and a few members who have been sweet-talked are behind it as proxies. They have allowed themselves to rock the union from within,” he said.
