Report a trade dispute for conciliation
State Department for Labour and Skills Development · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Report the trade dispute in writing to the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and serve a copy on the other side. The Chief Industrial Relations Officer then appoints a conciliator, who should finish within 90 days unless both sides agree to extend.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- How long
- Conciliation should finish within 90 days, or longer if both sides agree
- Where
- In writing to the Cabinet Secretary for Labour, State Department for Labour and Skills Development, Social Security House, Bishops Road, Nairobi
Steps
- Report the dispute to the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and serve a copy on the other party.
- The Chief Industrial Relations Officer (CIRO) appoints a conciliator to handle it.
- Attend the conciliation meetings. Anything you agree on is signed by both sides and witnessed by the conciliator.
- If you don't agree, the conciliator writes a report with findings and recommendations, and either side can take the matter to the Employment and Labour Relations Court.
Watch out
- An individual worker who isn't going through a union reports to the area labour officer instead, using Form LD 64.
- Don't forget to give the other party a copy of your report of the dispute.
Who can apply
- Workers, employers, trade unions and employers' associations.
Official sources (2)
- Handling of Labour Disputes labour.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- SDLSD Service Charter (Final Draft, 1 April 2024) labour.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026