This archive report was first published on 30 August 2019.
August 30, 2019, marked a significant day for the Dock Workers Union as employees at the Mombasa port began collecting signatures to call for an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in September to remove general secretary Simon Sang from office.
The move comes after Sang lost favour with the employees due to his alleged lone ranger brand of leadership, which has seen him accused of using workers to pursue personal interests.
According to union officials allied to chairman Mohamed Sheria, Sang orchestrated the sacking of 28 union officials in 2015 ahead of union elections, a move that has left many questioning his leadership.
“Sang orchestrated the sacking of his own union officials to get rid of them after he found it difficult to control them ahead of 2016 union elections,” said a union official.
Further allegations against Sang include taking millions of shillings in imprests for luxury trips abroad disguised as benchmarking trips, which are of no benefit to members.
“In the recent past, he took Sh3 million for a purported bench-marking trip but instead of boarding a plane to foreign capitals, he headed to his village in Kuresoi,” Sheria was quoted saying.
As the crisis deepens, Sang plans to prevent the AGM from taking place, fearing the outcome.
