A nexus between labour aristocracy and trade unions’ militancy in Kenya, 1990-2022

Martin Wekesa Watila; Pontian Godfrey Okoth; Kizito Muchanga Lusambili

doi:10.51867/AQSSR.3.3.54

Authors

Martin Wekesa Watila Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya Author https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4571-7382
Pontian Godfrey Okoth Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8369-9029
Kizito Muchanga Lusambili Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5430-4558

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51867/AQSSR.3.3.54

Keywords:

Industrial Relations, Kenya, Labour Aristocracy, Trade Union Militancy, Trade Union Conservatism

Abstract

The article examines the interplay between labour aristocracy and trade unions’ militancy in Kenya from 1990 to 2022. The specific focus is on the extent to which labour aristocracy contributed to the diminished trade union militancy. The research was anchored on a historical design guided by the Marxist theory of labour aristocracy and the interpretivistic philosophy. The target population constituted persons and institutions involved in industrial relations in Kenya, among them trade unionists, formal sector employees, labour experts and government officials. Respondents were sampled purposively and through snowballing. Data collection methods included oral interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, archival data, and secondary literature. The collected data was analyzed thematically. The study findings indicate that, labour aristocracy was the causal impetus to the absence of militancy in the majority of trade unions in Kenya. Trade union leaderships increasingly became compliant to the dictates of the government and employers turning into reformists, at the expense of workers who suffered from poor pay and other punitive labour policies. Trade union leaders were allegedly compromised by employers and the government to pacify union radicalism from shop stewards. The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), despite its representational role in strategic boards, commissions and taskforces on behalf of workers, oversaw the passage and adoption of punitive labour policies. To entrench conservatism, union elections were shambolic. This perpetuated the status quo. To leverage labour aristocracy, the article recommends the revitalization of trade unions by embracing democracy, empowering of rank-and-file and ensuring financial independence.

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