High Court rejects bid to halt registration of COTU officials

The High Court has declined to grant interim orders in a case challenging the registration of officials of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Kenya) (COTU).

The case was filed by Fazul Mahamed and the Institute for Democratic Governance against the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, the State Department of Labour, and eight other respondents, among them COTU SG Francis Atwoli.

The petitioners had asked the court to issue temporary orders, but the judge said there was already proof that the elected officials of COTU had been registered.

The judge added that the requested orders were no longer necessary.

The court, however, directed the third respondent to provide a certified copy of the COTU constitution within seven days. 

Both the petitioners and respondents were instructed to submit their written arguments within 21 days. The case will be mentioned again on 12th May 2026.