Wrangles among Dock Workers Union officials continue to persist even as members gear up for polls in April. Five top officials led by union chairman Mohammed Sheria have ganged up against general secretary Simon Sang accusing him of corruption and mismanagement of Union resources and affairs. Sheria, alongside treasurer Joseph Makero, vice chairman Gunda Kaneno, deputy general secretary Anthony Odero and gender chairperson Zuhura Idd have been battling Sang over accountability issues.
Simon Sang
They have dragged Sang to court over the management of union funds, accusing the Sang of embezzlement and other malpractices. In 2019, the Sheria camp called a members meeting at Bandari Maritime Academy and announced Sang’s ouster but this did not hold as the embattled general secretary rushed to court. Months later, Sang himself announced he had kicked out Sheria and his group from the union for allegedly failing to attend meetings but this move equally failed. Sang’s ongoing battle to stop an alleged plan by the government to privatise the second container terminal (CT2), claiming 3500 jobs would be lost has been dismissed by Sheria team as cheap politics aimed at resuscitating his dwindled popularity among workers. The union treasurer Makero has managed to seal nearly all loopholes through which Union funds were being looted, causing Sang and his henchmen untold financial suffering. Sang is entitled to Sh800, 000 per month in salaries and allowances.
Mohammed Sheria
Workers want Sang to come clean over accusations of corruption before he offers himself for re-election. Among other things, they want to know why he has not been holding annual general meetings for him to be accountable to members. They also want to know why he disposed of a union car at a throwaway price. The said vehicle, a Toyota Crown Reg number KBX 650X, blue in colour was sold for Sh800,000 to one a Ondiek of Mombasa Port Sacco. It is the same Sacco that reportedly advanced Sang Sh5 million loan for the purchase of his current Lexus vehicle. It is however not clear if the vehicle is union property or private. At the same time, the union’s title deed for its headquarters is also rumoured to be in a bank as collateral over a huge loan. Earlier on, controversy also rocked the union after a vehicle Toyota Corolla Reg KAW 674H, white in colour belonging to the union was reported stolen in a stage managed move only to be discovered later that it had been secretly sold by union officials to a businessman in Nakuru for Sh400, 000.
Alex Ndege
The matter was pursued with the police but it is not clear how it was settled. But even as Sang’s officials pile pressure on him from within, aspirants aiming to replace him at the union have launched vigorous campaigns. Among those giving Sang sleepless nights is his former assistant Abubakar Abdullahi. Abu, as he is fondly known, is campaigning on the platform of accountability. There is also Harry Arigi who is already controlling a bloc vote of over 400 members at the Kenya Ports Authority Inland Container Depot in Nairobi. Alex Ndege is also another force causing discomfort to Sang’s campaign team. He is known to be firm in his decisions. He is popular at container terminal and conventional cargo. He is popular within the Digos at the port. Edward Opiyo is blowing hot and cold and has not shown seriousness in his campaigns. Those close to him say he is afraid to spent his own money in the race. Renson Thoya, a MCA, has not been received well by workers who view him as a project of Governor Hassan Joho. It is rumoured that some of the candidates are consulting witch-doctors to supposedly make them popular
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