By Amoto Ndiewo
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Kilifi held an impromptu election to replace its Burial and Benevolent Fund (BBF) committee after a standoff during the branch’s AGM at Ngerenya Secondary school in Kilifi County.
The spat occurred after a section of members expressed dissatisfaction at how the branch managed the funds saying that the committee awarded themselves sweeping powers over the funds and changed the kitty’s formulation without asking for the members’ input.
The teachers claimed that they have been contributing Ksh. 200 monthly but whenever an emergency arose they were denied the stipulated Ksh. 20,000.
The complainants threatened a walk-out unless the matter was addressed forcing the branch officials to call for an election that yielded a nine-member committee..
“We’ve been unhappy with what has been going on since our contributions are deducted monthly but we don’t benefit during emergencies,” said Kioko Muli, a teacher from Malindi Secondary School.
Muli accused the officials led by the Executive Secretary Caleb Mogere of mismanaging the funds.
Another teacher, Geoffrey Aomo from Ganze accused Mogere of handpicking allies in the committee to oversee the mishandling of the funds.
“We contribute yet we don’t see the returns, there is a constitution dictating the amount teachers are supposed to pocket when one loses a kin but in our case the secretary disregards it by giving Ksh. 5,000 or Ksh. 10,000 which is far below the stipulated amount,” said Aomo.
Tobias Baraka, a teacher from Malindi expressed hope that the newly elected committee members will work for the welfare of teachers.
“We have elected a committee and each member will be co-opted as the funds’ signatory for it to be vibrant. It also ought to be independent of KUPPET since it has autonomy to attend to teachers problems,” he said.
However, when contacted, Mogere denied the mismanagement claims saying the teachers were just agitated.
“We have held an election to replace the BBF committee and the members are comfortable with them. The committee will work together with KUPPET officials to ensure it works to everyone’s satisfaction.” Concluded Mogere.
