Advancement of Trade Unions in Kenya: Is the Prevailing Environment Conducive?

Trade unions are entities operating within the confines of the law and are recognized as the formal outfits fronting and protecting workers fundamental rights and interests. They oversee labour – related matters and strive to ensure there is enhancement of workers living standards and wellbeing in the place of work. They achieve this through working with employers and government to create a better working environment, creation of harmonious industrial relations and as critical partners and citizens of society. Workers join trade unions for such benefits as higher wages, better benefits, job security, safer working conditions, improvement of their lot and the right to have input into workplace affairs. Conversely, trade unions require conducive environment for their operations and agitation, particularly when governments and policies threaten to weaken collective bargaining engagements. This paper therefore, examines the substantial strides that have been made towards the advancement of trade unions in Kenya over the years. It also analyzes the environment that trade unions in Kenya currently operate in. Though the labour movement in Kenya has developed significantly due to the opening up of the democratic space, this paper opines that, the environment under which the unions are operating is still not robust and conducive enough as it should be for the trade unions to fully thrive.

Advancement, Trade unions, Prevailing, Environment

1. Adar, K. G. (1999). Human rights and academic freedom in Kenya’s public universities: The case of universities academic staff union. Human Rights Quarterly, 21(1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Akhaukwa, P.J., Maru, L., & Byaruhanga, J. (2013). Effect of collective bargaining process on industrial relations environment in public universities in Kenya. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(2), 274-286. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Aluchio. L. P. (1998). Trade unions in Kenya: Development and system of industrial relations. Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, Nairobi. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Armstrong, M., & Taylor, S. (2014). Armstrong’s handbook of human resource management practice. Kogan Page Publishers. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Anyango, C., Obange, N., Abeka, E., Ondiek, G.O., Odera, O., & Ayugi, M.E. (2013). Factors affecting performance of trade unions in Kenya. American Journal of Business and Management, 2(2), 181-185. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Barkan, J.D. (1994). Beyond capitalism vs socialism in Kenya & Tanzania. East African Educational Publishers. Nairobi. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Bhreshta, B.K. (2012). Trade unions and management relations in Bangladesh: The role of trade unions in promoting workplace democracy. Journal of Labour and Society, 15(2), 1-15. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Constitution of Kenya, 2010. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Fashoyin, T. (2010). Collective Bargaining and Employment Relations in Kenya; Geneva, Switzerland: Industrial and Employment Relations Department, International Labor Organization. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Gichaba, S. M. (2013). Perceived influence of trade unions on terms and conditions of service and job security of employees at Kisii University-Kenya. (Master’s Thesis), University of Nairobi, Kenya. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Goolsarran, S.J. (2006). Industrial Relations in the Carribean, Issues and Perspectives. International Labour Organization. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Kersley, B., et al., (2006). Inside the workplace: Findings from the 2004 workplace employment relations survey (WERS). London: Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Mboya, T.J. (1986).Freedom and after. East African Educational Publishers. Nairobi. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Munene, I. (1997). The struggle for faculty unionism in a stalled democracy: Lessons from Kenya’s public universities. University of Florida Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Mwathe, J. W. (2018). Influence of Trade Unions on Productivity of Technical and Vocational Educational Training Institutions in Kenya. (Doctorate thesis), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Nairobi. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Njogu, K.(2013). Citizen participation in decision making. Towards inclusive development in Kenya. Twaweza Communications Ltd. Nairobi. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Nyaencha, E. (2014). Employee relations, principles, processes and practice. Focus Publishers Limited. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Odhong’, E., Were, S., & Jacob, O. (2014). Re-thinking industrial relations for enhanced organizational performance in Kenya. 2014 International Annual Conference on Sustainable Research and Innovation, vol 5. 7th-9th May. Nairobi: African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Odinga, J.O. Not yet uhuru. (1967). East African Educational Publishers. Nairobi. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Opara, L.C. (2014). The legal framework of trade union activism and the role of national industrial court (NIC) in handling trade dispute. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 4(3). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Owithi, G. (2024). Assessment of the state of trade unions in Kenya. ALREI Org, the official website of the Africa, labour, research and education institute, Lome Wage Indicator, 2024. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Owiti, O. (1990). The rights of an employee in Kenya. Oxford University Press. Nairobi. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Oyugi, W.O. (1994) Politics and administration in East Africa. East African Educational Publishers. Nairobi. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Rugeiyamu, R., Kashonda, E., & Mohamed, B. (2018). The milestones for development of trade unions in Tanzania: is the environment for the operation conducive. European Journal of Business and Management, 10(24), 41-48. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Thomas, K.W., & Daryl, K. (2012). Conflict and negotiation processes in organizations. Psychology Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Tubey, R., Kipkemboi, J., & Bundotich, M. (2015). An overview of industrial relations in Kenya. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences. 5(6), 2224-5766. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Patel, Z. (2006). Unquiet. The life and times of Makhan Singh. Zand Graphics Publishers. Nairobi. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• The Impact of Ownership Structure on Dividend Payout Policy of Listed Plantation Companies in Sri Lanka
• Urban Sustainability in North-East India: A Study through the lens of NER-SDG index
• Performance Assessment of Predictive Forecasting Techniques for Enhancing Hospital Supply Chain Efficiency in Healthcare Logistics
• The Fractured Self in Julian Barnes' Postmodern Fiction: Identity Crisis and Deflation in Metroland and the Sense of an Ending
• Impact of Flood on the Employment, Labour Productivity and Migration of Agricultural Labour in North Bihar