KUDHEIHA Trade Union Embroiled in Leadership Battle

By Benard Mulwa                                October 10, 2026,

NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions and Hospitals Workers (KUDHEIHA) has been plunged into a leadership crisis following the death of its General Secretary, Albert Njeru, on August 29, 2026, after a short illness.

The union has reportedly experienced internal leadership and governance disputes, with rival factions emerging in a contest over the succession to the late Njeru’s office. The dispute has drawn attention from the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K), alongside calls for investigations into the union’s leadership and governance affairs.

Speaking to journalists in Nairobi on Saturday, October 10, 2026, a section of KUDHEIHA members expressed frustration over the continued closure of the union’s offices and the lack of a resolution to the leadership impasse.

The members warned that they could mobilise and occupy the union’s offices by force next week if the situation remained unresolved. They also called for urgent intervention to restore normal operations and address what they described as a governance crisis within the workers’ organisation.

The aggrieved members further demanded a forensic audit of the union’s accounts, arguing that an independent examination would help establish transparency and accountability in the management of its finances.

They called for the union’s financial records to be subjected to scrutiny, saying that members deserved clarity on the institution’s financial position and the circumstances surrounding its current administrative challenges.

The dispute has raised concerns about the continuity of union operations and the protection of workers’ interests at a time when the organisation faces uncertainty over its leadership.

The members also invoked Article One of the Constitution of Kenya, which provides that all sovereign power belongs to the people and must be exercised in accordance with the Constitution. They said their concerns over representation, accountability and governance should be addressed through transparent and lawful processes.

However, any attempt to forcibly occupy the union’s offices could further escalate tensions and disrupt efforts to resolve the dispute. A peaceful and lawful resolution, supported by transparent governance procedures and appropriate investigations, would help protect the interests of union members.

The involvement of COTU-K and the reported calls for investigations are likely to remain central to efforts to address the dispute and establish a clear path towards resolving the succession question.

As the leadership contest continues, attention will be focused on whether the rival factions can reach a consensus, whether an independent forensic audit will be undertaken, and when the union’s offices will resume normal operations.

KUDHEIHA’s leadership dispute remains unresolved, with members demanding accountability, a transparent succession process and the restoration of normal union operations.