COTU Kenya Obtains Order Barring Parties Primaries on Labour Day

The High Court in Malindi has issued fresh orders compelling parties to end their primaries by Sunday April 30 following an application by the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU Kenya).

COTU-K argued in its application that May 1 is the Labour Day public holiday, which must be respected.

The lawyer representing COTU-K, Morris Kilonzo said holding party primaries on Monday was unconstitutional.

“It’s day for Kenyan workers to rest and must be respected as stipulated in the Constitution hence the nominations should not be held on the same day,” argued Kilonzo.

High Court Judge Justice Weldon Korir granted COTU-K the application and ordered primaries to end by Sunday.

On Monday Justice Korir directed that the nominations deadline for the ongoing political party primaries be extended by five days from April 26.

In giving the order, the court allowed parties up to May 1 to conduct their primaries pending hearing of the application filed by Angaza Empowerment Network.

IEBC had said it would obey the court order extending the nominations deadline. The electoral commission noted that the change does not affect other timelines