The High Court in Lodwar has suspended the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Turkana branch elections that were set for March 14, 2026, issuing interim conservatory orders to preserve the status quo until a petition challenging the process is heard.
The suspension stems from a case filed by Pauline Lomorukai Locheria, who has named KNUT and its Secretary General as respondents. In a directive dated March 13, the court classified the matter as urgent and ordered that it be treated on a priority basis.
Justice P. J. Otieno, presiding over the case, ruled that the elections cannot proceed until the petition is determined. “In the meantime, and to preserve the status quo and the substratum of the petition, the court grants an order that the election for the KNUT Turkana Branch, due for 14.03.2026, is stopped by an interim conservatory order pending further orders by the court,” the ruling stated.
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The court further directed that the motion be served on the respondents without delay, with any responses to be filed and served within six days. The matter has been scheduled for an inter-partes hearing on March 23, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Justice Otieno at the Lodwar High Court.
The interim order effectively halts all electoral activities for the Turkana KNUT branch until the court delivers its final determination. This means campaigns, voting, and any related preparations are suspended, leaving union members in uncertainty as they await the outcome of the petition.
Officials from the KNUT Turkana branch have not yet issued a formal statement in response to the court’s decision. Observers, however, note that the ruling underscores the importance of due process and legal compliance in union elections, emphasising that members’ rights must be safeguarded through transparent and lawful procedures.
By Lokwang Daniel
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