By Norah Musega
museganorah@gmail.com
Teachers have pledged support for Suna West Member of Parliament, Hon. Peter Francis Masara, in his bid to defend the parliamentary seat for a second term.
Led by union leaders during the grand homecoming and thanksgiving ceremony held at Oruba grounds within the constituency the teachers noted the education sector had received a major facelift during the incumbents tenure at the MP especially through national government constituency development fund.
Kenya union of post primary education teachers executive secretary Samuel Orwa Jasolo called on support towards the Masaras’ bid to defend his seat noting that he had greatly impacted the education sector positively by enhancing infrastructural development in schools to develop a conducive working and learning environment for teachers and learners respectively.
Jasolo said they will rally behind him come August 9th during the general polls to elect him back into office for future prosperity of the society which provides equal opportunities for learning to children from all socio-economic backgrounds.
“I want to call parents to embrace the leadership of hon. Masara and to vote for him during the August polls for better and quality education for our children and prosperity of professionalism.” said Jasolo.
The unionist noted that learners within the constituency had been performing exemplary well due to the immense support from the area member of parliament towards payment of school fees and employment of teachers.
“He has been of great help and success working together with hon. Masara to lobby for employment of more teachers to help meet the teacher student ratio and this has as well reflected on the national exam results that our learners have achieved over the past five years he has been the MP working closer with all education stakeholders in bid to promote education.” noted Jasolo.
He also said that with the construction of more police stations and employment of security officers within the constituency through the NG-CDF under his leadership, the safety of learners in schools has improved and more guaranteed since the area MP has tirelessly worked to see that the teachers are equally safe at their areas of work and residence and this gives moral in articulating their jurisdictions promptly in their respective station of work.
“As teachers we are more concerned about the welfare of our learners both at school and home. The MP has worked towards making our work more easier than before by ensuring that learners are kept in school and more motivated to attend school through bursaries and availability of learning resources.” he noted.
His sentiments were also echoed by the Kenya national union of teachers Migori branch executive secretary Caleb Opondi who noted the the incumbent is a performer and deserves a second chance since the fruits of his labour as the area member of parliament are evident in all schools within the constituency and among professionals from within the region.
“Embrace and elect leaders who are more concerned about the academic achievements of our children and development of our schools as this will help eradicate poverty within the society and create equal opportunities in the job market.” said Opondi.
Opondi urged the locals to shun from divisive politics based on origin noting that the incumbent had served without any form of discrimination and that he has served the people of suna west as their MP without diverting the resources to another community or constituency.
Masara will be defending the parliamentary seat against Joseph Ndiege who is the former member of parliament for the constituency and who had lost to him in the orange democratic movement party primaries which were held in April.
This also comes two months after Ndiege held a consultative meeting at his home in Bondo after which he noted that the teachers had pledged their support for his bid despite union officials failing to attend the event.
Opondi on his side told the education news that he had not received a formal communication about the meeting and therefore was not aware of the agenda hence opted not to attend.
“it is the union that has the mandate to speak on behalf of the teachers interest and therefore he ought to have made a formal communication to our offices since we are charged with the mandate to advocate for our members and therefore he cannot justify that he has the teachers support.” he noted.
