This archive report was first published on 19 September 2019.
Kenya's labour movement has a long way to go in terms of gender equality, according to Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who spoke at a conference in Nairobi on September 18, 2019.
Mr Musyoka, who also heads the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Committee in South Sudan, expressed concern over the low representation of women in top union positions, including the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU).
"Less than 30 per cent of women occupy the top slots in key unions," he noted, citing statistics from the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) conference.
Mr Musyoka emphasized the need for trade unions to strike a balance between workers' rights and employer rights, and to foster harmonious relationships between unions and employers to avoid excessive combativeness.
He also highlighted the importance of adhering to court orders and promoting industrial harmony, citing the ongoing dispute between the Teachers Service Commission and Knut as an example that could be resolved through mediation.
Francis Atwoli, Secretary-General of COTU, echoed Mr Musyoka's sentiments, calling on trade organisations to take responsibility for building a just and equitable future of work through social dialogue.
