The Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli spent nearly two hours in a police cell after the court convicted him of contempt.
High court judge Isaac Lenaola slapped the workers unions’ boss with a fine of Sh 500,000 failure to which he was to serve a three months jail term for disobeying a court order that had stopped a workers strike.
“Sentencing is a matter of the court discretion you are a leader of millions of workers and you ought to lead by example. Contempt of court cannot attract a mere reprimand and I order as follows a fine of Sh 500,000 in default three months in prison,” ruled Lenaola.
The judge also ordered Atwoli to offer a public apology within 21 days in two daily newspapers.
Atwoli spent about two hours at the cells as his handlers and lawyers sorted out the fine and when he was released after completing the payment he was met outside the court with jubilant workers singing songs in solidarity with him.
Atwoli accompanied with workers union officials and International Labour Organization official termed the sentencing as an affront to the labour movement in the country and told workers to brace themselves for hard times.
Kenya Tea Growers Association had filed an application in court seeking to have Atwoli and officials of the union committed to civil jail for disobeying the orders issued on October 14, 2010.
The Secretary General had been restrained from inciting or otherwise calling for a strike by the petitioner’s employee. It is those orders that the association claims the contemnors breached and deliberately violated.
High court judge Isaac Lenaola slapped the workers unions’ boss with a fine of Sh 500,000 failure to which he was to serve a three months jail term for disobeying a court order that had stopped a workers strike.
“Sentencing is a matter of the court discretion you are a leader of millions of workers and you ought to lead by example. Contempt of court cannot attract a mere reprimand and I order as follows a fine of Sh 500,000 in default three months in prison,” ruled Lenaola.
The judge also ordered Atwoli to offer a public apology within 21 days in two daily newspapers.
Atwoli spent about two hours at the cells as his handlers and lawyers sorted out the fine and when he was released after completing the payment he was met outside the court with jubilant workers singing songs in solidarity with him.
Atwoli accompanied with workers union officials and International Labour Organization official termed the sentencing as an affront to the labour movement in the country and told workers to brace themselves for hard times.
Kenya Tea Growers Association had filed an application in court seeking to have Atwoli and officials of the union committed to civil jail for disobeying the orders issued on October 14, 2010.
The Secretary General had been restrained from inciting or otherwise calling for a strike by the petitioner’s employee. It is those orders that the association claims the contemnors breached and deliberately violated.
By Isaiah Lucheli
SOURCE: standard Digital
