The Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) has obtained a court order blocking the appointment of National Social Security Fund new Board of Trustees, after claiming that its membership has been excluded in the appointment.
COTU through lawyer Judith Guserwa moved to Court under certificate of urgency seeking orders to block the new board of trustees appointed by the Labour and Social Security Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi, saying the minister left out representation of the workers union.
COTU had appointed Damaris Wanjiru Muhika to the NSSF Board of Trustees in July 23 last year as a replacement of Cornelius Nyang’un but the Board is yet to effect the changes.
COTU boss Francis Atwoli told the Court that Kambi was exposing the workers funds to possible misuse and accused him of refusing to make a statutory appointment thus denying the workers union its right of representation.
Kambi this week appointed former Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) chairman Engineer Erastus Mwongera, Andrew Muigai and Veska Jepkemboi to the Board for three years.
Atwoli also got orders barring the NSSF Board of Trustees from meeting until the case is heard in ten days’ time.
Justice George Odunga allowed COTU to bring proceedings to compel Kambi to appoint one of their members to the Board.
The court barred the Labour Secretary from convening a meeting of the new Board pending the appointment of a nominee from workers union.
The orders stays the decision of the minister until the matter is heard inter parties on February 6.
Justice Odunga further halted a scheduled Special Meeting of the new Board slated for Thursday and whose agenda included the adoption of the controversial Tassia project and the implementation of the NSSF Act 2013.
The meeting has been convened by acting Chief Executive Officer Richard Langat was to be held at NSSF Headquarters.
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