Trouble is brewing at the Kenya Union of Commercial Food and Allied Workers (KUCFAW) following a letter that has suspended long-serving general secretary Boniface Kavuvi from his position for allegedly violating labour relation laws.
In a statement released by the union and signed by acting General Secretary Kinuya M’Mukiri, the National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved to suspend Kavuvi during a meeting held on May 29, 2025.
According to the letter, the decision was made after the NEC found him in violation of both the union’s constitution and the Labour Relations Act.
However, the letter by M’mukiiri failed to identify the specific violations that Kavuvi has contravened.
“KUCFAW wishes to inform the public, members, and social partners of recent changes in the union’s leadership. Following a duly convened meeting of the National Executive Committee , a resolution was passed to suspend Bro. Boniface Kavuvi from his position as General Secretary,” read the letter from the union signed by M’Mukiri.
However, The Star reached out to Kavuvi who claimed that he is still the substantive office holder and the "coup" is unconstitutional since no NEC meeting had taken place.
“I am currently in Geneva and no meeting of the union took place. I am the authorised officer to call any meeting of the union in accordance with the constitution,” said Kavuvi.
A letter by the registrar of trade unions under the ministry of labour and social protection had warned the National Executive Council members over convening a meeting not called for by Kavuvi.
“In light of the foregoing please be advised that the meeting to be held on 12th April is not properly called for and we advise that the same cannot be held any deliberations made in that meeting cannot hold,” said the registrar Anne Kanake in a directive.
“We note that in your letter dated 19th March 2025, you had requested the General Secretary to convene an NEC meeting within 14 days of the letter, failure which your clients would automatically become the conveners of the meeting. Kindly let us know which article/rule of the constitution was relied upon in arriving to that decision,” posed the registrar in the letter.
Documents in possession of the Star show that fresh tensions have been rife within the leadership of the union, as internal disputes escalated over alleged attempts by two senior officials to convene what has been described as "unconstitutional and illegal" meetings.
According to the Labour ministry, the current union constitution does not place the responsibility to call for an NEC meeting on anyone else besides the secretary general.
“Initially this office was led to believe that this meeting was sanctioned by the General Secretary, your letter of invitation has clarified that this is not the case,” said Kanake.
In a communique' dated June 3, 2025, Kavuvi informed union members that officials Andrew Kinyua and Peter Ngugi are at the center of renewed conflict.
According to the letter, the duo has continued to defy union protocols by pushing to hold unauthorised National Executive Council meetings, despite previous warnings.
Further complicating the matter, the Registrar of Trade Unions had previously issued guidance to the two officials in letters dated February 10 and April 10, 2025.
That advice, however, appears to have been disregarded. The two officials also sought intervention from the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) on May 5.
