Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun) has expelled its chairman John Biiy over gross misconduct and breach of the union’s constitution.
The union accused him of working with the government and other agencies to betray the ongoing talks on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The union’s National Executive Council (NEC) met on Friday and unanimously approved the expulsion of Biiy who has taken the union’s Secretary General Seth Panyako to court over alleged abuse of office.
NEC accused Biiy of not observing the internal dispute resolution mechanism and colluding with the government and other entities to frustrate the work of the union.
“John Biiy has violated the union’s constitution by colluding with employees, employers, government and other entities to frustrate the union programmes and activities of importance to frustrate the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations which are in progress,” said Knun deputy secretary general Maurice Opetu.
“Biiy’s continued castigation and character assassination of the national union officials and disrespect of duly established organs has irreparably damaged the image of the union and her members, nationally, regionally and internationally,” he added.
Gross violation
Opetu said the union’s top decision organ found Biiy of gross violation of the union constitution making him unfit to hold office.
“The National Executive Council has resolved to expel John Biiy from the union leadership forthwith in accordance with Union Constitution which states that a member of the council or an officer may be interdicted, suspended or expelled from the union as may be determined by the National Executive/Governing Council,” stated Opetu.
Biiy has 14 days to appeal NEC’s decision.
The council appointed deputy chairman Joseph Ngwasi who will act as chairman while his position will be occupied by Fredrick Oigo on interim basis.
Biiy’s disagreement with other union officials started after he led a section of union officials to call off the December strike.
New CBA
But Panyako led the union in denouncing Biiy’s return-to-work agreement’.
Instead, he pushed the government to award nurses a service allowance from Sh15,00 to Sh20,000 and a deal to negotiate a new CBA before he officially called off the strike.
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