Knut officials still face jail threat

PHOTO | STEPHEN MUDIARI Knut acting secretary-general Mudzo Nzili (seated second from right), chairman Wilson Sossion (centre) and other union officials during a Press conference in Nairobi on July 14, 2013  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By RICHARD MUNGUTI rmunguti@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Wednesday, July 17  2013 at  23:30

In Summary

• Union chiefs set to know their fate in case by TSC seeking to send them to jail and fine Knut Sh20m on July 22

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The teachers’ employer wants Kenya National Union of Teachers chiefs jailed for allegedly ignoring a court order to call off their strike.

The Teachers Service Commission also wants Knut slapped with a Sh20 million fine for the four-week job boycott that was called off on Wednesday.

TSC wants Knut chairman Wilson Sossion and acting secretary-general Mudzo Nzili punished for allegedly refusing to end the strike as was directed by the Industrial Court on July 1.
Lawyers representing the two sides made their final submissions yesterday and Mr Sossion and Mr Nzili will know their fate next week.

“I will deliver a ruling on the contempt application by TSC against Knut, Mr Sossion and Mr Nzili on July 22, 2010 at 10.30am,” Lady Justice Linet Ndolo directed.

In its concluding remarks, TSC through State counsel Muthoni Kimani, Francis Mwangi and Allan Sitima asked the court to jail the Knut bosses for six months without the option of fine. “For seven clear days, they have not called off the strike. This court should not allow the two to benefit from their mischief,” Mr Mwangi urged the judge.

He asked the court to impose a Sh10,000 fine on Knut members for refusing to report on duty on July 2.

However, Mr Sossion and Mr Nzili opposed the request, saying they were not personally served with the court order. Their lawyer, Mr Chacha Odera, also asked the judge to reject the request to jail without an option of fine.

TSC claimed it attempted to serve the order at Knut head offices but it was snatched from the server, Mr Alex Mutua, at the registry on second floor.

The allegations were denied by Knut Nairobi branch chairman Ephrahim Orenge and a security officer, Mr David Kimeli— who denied seeing Mr Mutua at Knut headquarters.

 

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