- KETAWU reject Kenya Power’s move to outsource meter reading
- Says move is a breach of the collective bargaining agreement
- Labour court stops Kenya power from implementing MoU
The Kenya Electrical Trades and Allied Workers Union (KETAWU) filed a motion in a Kenyan Employment and Labour Relations Court to restrain Kenya Power from outsourcing metering duties in a new deal with the National Youth Service (NYS). Over 300 employees of the state-owned utility took the company to court on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NYS.
Kenya Power, last year, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the NYS to take up officers from the youth service to carry out meter reading duties. According to the MoU, Kenya Power would pay for the costs for labour, transportation, and work equipment. In rejecting this arrangement, the KETAWU said Kenya Power breached the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). According to the union, the move by Kenya Power was made without consulting them, despite a CBA already in force which protects their interests.
The Labour Court has stopped Kenya Power from implementing the MoU, asking all parties to maintain the status quo.