By Roy Hezron
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) held its national elections virtually on April 2,2021 which witnessed all the current National Executive Board members being re-elected unopposed to lead the union for the next five years.
Secretary General Akello Misori who was re-elected during the virtual elections said that they had to carry the elections virtually after suspension of public gatherings by President Uhuru Kenyatta most recently in mitigating the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are among a handful of institutions in Kenya, and the first trade union to hold our national conference on Zoom. The union will undertake an urgent review of its constitution to provide for emerging trends such as voting virtually,” said Misori.
The elections were presided over by Acting Commissioner of Labour Hellen Apiyo who said that she was satisfied that all the legal requirements for the elections were met by the union .
“Even though voting by virtual methods is not expressly provided for under the Kuppet constitution, Iam satisfied by resolutions of the National Governing Council on March 30, 2021 and a court order paving the way for virtual voting,” said Apiyo.
Other officials who were re-elected and who will also form the union’s NEB include Hon. Omboko Milemba who retained his national Chairman’s seat and who also doubles up as Emuhaya MP, Moses Nthurima who retained his Deputy Secretary General’s seat, and Julius Korir retained his National Vice-Chairman seat.
Wicks Mwethi Njenga retained his National Treasurer seat, Hon. Ronald Kiprotich Tonui retained his Assistant National Treasure position, Paul Ngei Maingi retained his National Organizing Secretary position, Edward Kaso Obwocha retained his National Secretary-Secondary, Sammy Chelang’a retained his National Secretary-Tertiary, while Hon. Catherine Wambilianga retained her National Secretary Gender seat and who too doubles up as Bungoma County Women representative.
The union had initially scheduled to hold its elections on April 3, 2021 at Moi Sports Centre Kasarani in Nairobi.
Among the top promises the current officials who were re-elected promised its members is the 2021-2025 CBA which already it has submitted its proposals to Teachers Service Commission (TSC) which it will see a classroom teacher getting a 70 per cent salary increment while administrators getting 30 per cent salary increment.
