The Employment and Labour Relations Court has stopped Uasu’s constitutional amendments to scrap term limits, blocking Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga from extending his leadership.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) faces a leadership shake-up after the Employment and Labour Relations Court blocked efforts to scrap the secretary-general’s two-term limit. The ruling ends Dr. Constantine Wasonga’s hopes of seeking re-election in 2026, as he has already served two terms.
In August 2025, the court found that the constitutional amendments lacked the required two-thirds majority, with only 278 out of 449 delegates voting in favor—short of the 299 threshold. The Registrar of Trade Unions later revoked the certificate of alteration, declaring the amendments procedurally invalid.
The controversial changes would have allowed candidates for national positions to automatically become delegates, introduced new positions such as a woman representative, and most significantly, removed term limits for the secretary-general.
Union members criticized the move as a power grab. Some argued that the proposed changes offered little value and were designed to secure Wasonga’s leadership indefinitely. The Registrar has now directed Uasu to proceed with its 2026 elections under the old constitution.
This ruling underscores growing resistance to union leaders who attempt to bend rules for personal gain, reflecting broader concerns about accountability and democratic governance in Kenya’s labor unions.
