Why KNUT leadership race is as fierce as national politics

Why KNUT leadership race is as fierce as national politics

Why KNUT leadership race is as fierce as national politics

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On Thursday, delegates from all 110 KNUT branches converged at the college for a Special Delegates Conference to oversee nominations, which, according to the KNUT constitution, must be conducted a day before the election and at the same venue

For Kenyans not acquainted with much of the goings-on in the teaching profession, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) may appear to be just another trade union championing the welfare and rights of its members.
However, KNUT means much more to teachers, as reflected in the high-stakes rivalry and intrigues surrounding its national elections scheduled for Friday, April 3, at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu.
The election will determine the union’s leadership, financial stability, and bargaining power against the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), with demands for a 60 per cent pay rise and improved teacher welfare at the centre.

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Collins Oyuu vs Wilson Sossion
Ahead of the election, the Union is set to conduct nominations on Thursday, as the contest between incumbent Secretary General (SG) Collins Oyuu and the possible comeback of his predecessor, Wilson Sossion, intensifies.
A day earlier, the Employment and Labour Relations Court dismissed an application by Sossion seeking to halt the process.

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Sossion, who had expressed interest in vying, had sought conservatory orders restraining KNUT officials from contesting the positions of secretary general and deputy secretary general pending the hearing and determination of his petition.
He also sought to stop the Union from holding nominations until all 110 branches, 47 county councils, and eight regional councils had conducted elections and were properly constituted.
In his main petition, which is still pending determination, Sossion moved to court seeking orders to restrain KNUT officials, their agents, or any person acting under their authority from barring him from contesting in the forthcoming elections.
The former SG argued that his petition would be rendered ineffective if the orders were not granted and that denying them would not be in the public interest.
“After a holistic review of the case, the court was persuaded that the core foundation of the application, that is nomination and eligibility, is well provided for by the constitution of the association,” Justice Jacob Gakeri ruled.
“Public interest is not in favour of granting the conservatory orders sought, and as a consequence, that application was not allowed.”
Despite a Court of Appeal ruling that Sossion was wrongfully deregistered as a teacher, Oyuu has maintained that the KNUT constitution renders him ineligible to vie.
Speaking to The Eastleigh Voice, Elimu Bora Working Group Policy Advisor Boaz Waruku said the KNUT’s elections are usually high-stakes contests, comparable to governorship or presidential races in their influence.
“In those positions, you lead teachers across the country, and everybody gets interested. The government gets interested in who becomes the person to negotiate for the teachers’ welfare,” said Waruku.
Waruku added that the elections are crucial in determining how aggressively the union negotiates future Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) with the TSC, particularly with demands for a 60 per cent pay raise.
KNUT election, constitution
Teachers have been pushing for a change in leadership to address issues such as promotion bottlenecks, poor medical schemes, and protection of union membership against the TSC.
The election is thus expected to decide whether the union continues with its current management style or returns to the aggressive, militant approach of former leadership.
According to the KNUT constitution, nominations must be conducted a day before the election and at the same venue.
Delegates will nominate candidates for several positions, including national chairperson, first vice national chairperson, second vice national chairperson, secretary general, deputy secretary general, assistant secretary general, national treasurer, deputy national treasurer, assistant national treasurer, two national women representatives, three trustees, and representatives for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The leadership team constitutes the National Executive Council (NEC), the Union’s top decision-making organ.
The current NEC leadership includes Oyuu as SG, Patrick Karinga as national chairperson, Hesbon Otieno as deputy SG, John Ndiku as national treasurer, Aggrey Namisi as second national vice chairperson, and Lenox Mshila as assistant SG.
Other NEC members are Alex Dunga, Eunice Bosco, Olando Kwach, and Elli Korinko.
The NEC works alongside branch executive secretaries across the country to manage the union’s affairs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with the TSC.
The KNUT constitution stipulates that any elected official at the branch level who wishes to vie for a national position must resign before submitting nomination papers. Oyuu issued the election notice on March 13, at least two weeks before the conference.
“All branches are therefore directed to prepare and appoint delegates to the special conference through properly constituted branch executive committee meetings, as provided for in the KNUT constitution,” he directed branch executive secretaries.

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