The Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare has resolved to re-invite the management of New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) after their failure to attend today’s session—a move aimed at ending the decades-long dispute over compensation for the former employees of the creamery.

Sen George Mbugua, the committee's Vice-chair, stated that the re-invitation would come with strict requirements for New KCC to present an asset register, detailing the assets acquired from the former KCC, the current assets held by New KCC and the current status of those assets.

“Considering the timelines for concluding on petitions brought to the Senate, we need to be forward-thinking should we need to direct New KCC to sell off some assets to pay off the owings,” Sen Mbugua asserted. 

The Senate Standing Order 238(2) emphasizes that any petition brought before a Standing Committee must have a report tabled in the Senate within 60 calendar days from the reading of the prayer, underscoring the urgency of this matter.

The Committee also resolved to re-invite the Solicitor General and the Cabinet Secretaries for the Ministries of Cooperatives, Labour and the National Treasury, who also failed to attend today’s proceedings. Their absence drew sharp criticism from committee members.

Sen Miraj Abdillah voiced her frustration at the non-attendance of the government officials, noting that the petitioners had made significant efforts to be present. 

“The petitioners travelled from far and wide to attend this meeting, only to be met with the absence of those from whom we seek answers. They should be surcharged to reimburse the petitioners who are searching for justice,” Sen Miraj argued.

Meanwhile, Sen Julius Murgor, the committee's chair, called upon Advocate Namada Simoni, who represents the petitioners, to provide a comprehensive list of the former KCC employees he is representing to clarify the number of beneficiaries involved in this case. 

Sen Murgor reiterated the committee’s commitment to ensuring that justice is served and that the ex-employees receive their due SACCO deductions and terminal benefits.

“This committee stands for justice, and we will stand by the former employees to ensure they receive what they are rightfully owed,” emphasized Sen Murgor.

This Petition presented to the Senate on 9th July, 2024 comes after years of legal wrangling over compensation for former KCC employees, who were dismissed in 1997 following the government's failure to settle payments with the creamery under the School Milk Programme. Despite a series of court rulings, including a High Court judgment that held New KCC liable for compensation, a subsequent appeal in 2020 overturned the decision, leaving the matter unresolved.