By Our Reporter
KUPPET national officials are quite confident they will retain their seats in the upcoming elections.
There is reasonable consensus within the union caucuses that the national leaders be given a fresh mandate owing to the relative stability the labour movement has enjoyed over the years.
They are also credited for major achievements in negotiating for better remuneration for their members and also advocating for their welfare.
Speaking to Education News , KUPPET National Deputy Secretary General Mr. Moses Nthurima confirmed that he will be defending his seat.
“There has been a feeling that teachers need to retain the national office, but that does not mean anyone who hold different opinion should not be allowed to express himself because Kuppet members understand what they expect for themselves,” stated Mr. Nthurima.
Nthurima said the current officials have done a lot for the last five years, citing the current CBA which is in its last implementation stage.
Negotiations for the next CBA expected to begin 2021-2025 will see classroom teachers get 70 per cent and administrators a 30 per cent increment.
“We have a cordial relation with the commission (TSC). We just make a call and a meeting is organized because we understand the commission the same way the commission understand us unlike before when we used to throw stones at each other,” said Nthurima.
Vihiga Kuppet Executive Secretary Nebert Isambe said they have experienced total stability as a result of the current national leaders and he sees no need of changing them officials in the next coming elections.
“I don’t see much is changing at the national level because of stability and the union has grown and national chairman Omboko Milemba has done a good job and we are willing to retain him,” said Isambe who is defending nhis seat in the branch elections.
Unlike Knut, KUPPET has had a cordial relationship with the Teachers Service Commission and the Ministry of Education.
The Commission’s top brass attended the 2018 and 2019 KUPPET Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) but gave KNUT a wide berth in its 2018 ADC.
While KUPPET receives agency fees from the Commission, this is not the case with KNUT.
National positions that will attract competition include Chairman held by Omboko Milemba, who is also Emuhaya MP, Secretary General held by Akelo Misori and that of Assistant Treasurer held by Ronald Tonui, who is also the Bomet Central MP.
Also to be hotly contested is the position of the National Gender Secretary held by Gladys Wambilyanga, the Bungoma Woman Representative in parliament.
Others include National Treasurer held by Mwethi Njenga, Deputy Secretary General occupied by Moses Nthurima, National Secretary held by Tertiary Sammy Chelang’a.
The position of National Secretary Secondary is occupied by Edward Obwocha, Vice Chairman by Julius Korir and National Organising Secretary by Paul Maingi.
