The national elections of the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals & Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) have been halted following a decisive intervention by the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nakuru, throwing the powerful workers’ union into a fresh leadership crisis.
The court issued conservatory orders suspending the much-anticipated polls after a petition was filed citing alleged violations of the union’s constitution and claims of intimidation targeting aspirants seeking the national secretary general office.
At the centre of the legal challenge is petitioner’s lawyer Tonge Yoya, who argued that the electoral process had been fundamentally compromised and could not proceed in its current form.
According to court filings, the petition accuses the current union leadership of failing to adhere to the provisions of the KUDHEIHA constitution governing the conduct of national elections.
Mr Yoya told the court that the process had been marred by procedural irregularities that threatened the integrity of the union’s democratic structures.
“Our position is very clear: the constitution of KUDHEIHA must be followed to the letter. What we have witnessed is a blatant breach of the union’s own rules, which risks disenfranchising members and undermining internal democracy,” said Mr Yoya.
He further argued that allowing the elections to proceed under the disputed framework would have caused irreparable damage to the union and its membership.
The petition also raised serious allegations of intimidation directed at candidates eyeing senior national positions, including the influential secretary-general seat.
Mr Yoya claimed that several aspirants had expressed fear over the prevailing environment within the union’s electoral process.
“There has been a pattern of intimidation against individuals who have shown interest in contesting for national positions. Elections must be free, fair and devoid of coercion. Unfortunately, that threshold has not been met,” he stated.
He told reporters outside the Nakuru court that the legal action was intended to safeguard the rights of union members and restore confidence in the electoral process.
“This case is not about personalities. It is about protecting institutional integrity and ensuring that KUDHEIHA remains governed by the rule of law and its own constitution,” Mr Yoya added.
The dispute has placed current KUDHEIHA Secretary General Albert Njeru under intense scrutiny, with the petition accusing him of refusing to comply with constitutional requirements and allegedly intimidating rival aspirants.
However, when contacted for comment, Mr Njeru declined to respond to the allegations. Efforts to obtain his official position on the court ruling and the claims raised in the petition were unsuccessful by the time of publication.
“Mr Njeru decided on his own violation to call for national elections on February 28th, which is against the KUDHEIHA constitution and registrar, which stipulates that all 36 KUDHEIHA regional branches shall nominate two delegates for the national elections voting, which is scheduled for April 1st to June 30th, 2026,” laments Yoya.
He further stated that Mr Njeru also refused to share all the names of the delegates to enable him to hunt for votes among the regional branches before the national elections.
Mr Yoya adds, “We have written to Mr Njeru requesting that he share the names of those delegates to enable us to campaign, but he bluntly refused. He continues to intimidate other candidates who are vying for the position of secretary general and other positions.”
The Nakuru court’s decision to halt the elections is seen as a significant development in the union’s internal politics. Legal analysts note that courts typically intervene in union electoral matters only when there is prima facie evidence of procedural breaches or risk of injustice.
By issuing conservatory orders, the court effectively freezes the electoral timetable pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Observers say the ruling underscores the judiciary’s increasing role in arbitrating disputes within powerful labour organisations.
KUDHEIHA is one of Kenya’s most influential sectoral unions, representing workers across hospitality, domestic services, educational institutions, and health facilities. Any prolonged leadership dispute could have ripple effects across these sectors.
The court is expected to issue further directions on the hearing of the petition in the coming weeks. Until then, the union’s national electoral process remains in limbo.
Mr Yoya expressed confidence that the court would ultimately uphold constitutional order within the union.
“We trust the court will ensure that due process prevails. Our goal is simple — credible, transparent and constitutional elections that reflect the will of KUDHEIHA members,” he said.
According to Mr Ole Keyua, an aspirant for the position of National Chairman, Albert Njeru has also declined to publish the names of all aspirants and delegates, hiding this very important information from the secretariat to his advantage.
“He is likely working in collusion with the registrar of trade unions and the labour commissioner to rig the national election in his favour,” adds Keyua.
The case is set for mention on 12th March 2026 before the Employment & Labour Relations court in Nakuru for further directions.
