Trade unionists join Parliament after polls victory

Tom Odege, Omboko Milemba, and Catherine Wambilyanga are among trade union leaders who are set to join the 12th Parliament after winning in last week’s polls.

Mr Odege, who is the secretary-general of Union of Kenya Civil Servants was contesting on an ODM ticket for the Nyatike seat. He got 25,780 votes against his close rival, Frederick Ogenga, who got 21,801.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) national chairman Milemba of ANC won the Emuhaya seat beating Johnstone Sienga. He got 14,413 votes while Asienga got 8,568.

Ms Wambilyanga, a Kuppet official, is Bungoma’s women representative-elect after beating Reginalda Wanyonyi.

ODM is set to nominate Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) secretary-general Wilson Sossion to Parliament.

He told the Business Daily that the election of trade unions in Parliament is critical.

“We will no longer be partakers of legislative process, but we will participate in their formulation. We should not fear to occupy that space,” he said.

Former Knut Baringo branch executive secretary is also the governor-elect for Baringo County on Jubilee ticket.

The Central Organisation of Trade Union deputy secretary-general Ernes Nadome has also been proposed for nomination by Kanu.

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However, others did not succeed among them Kuppet deputy secretary-general Moses Nthurima who was seeking Imenti Central seat.
Mr Nthurima who contested on DP ticket lost to Kerima Muchine of Jubilee party.

Busia Knut Branch executive Secretary Mark Oseno also lost the Funyula seat to Mr Oundo Mudenyo of ODM. He was contesting on ANC.

Those elected will have to push for interest of workers with top on the agenda being address the abnormal wage gap between the highest and lowest paid Kenyan worker.

They are also expected to address the issue of pay as you earn which workers argue is too high as well as pay increase to workers.