The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Teachers, (KUPPET) is facing serious allegations of undermining union democracy following claims that its leadership is deliberately using agency membership to deny teachers their right to vote in internal elections.
According to Michael Njoroge Murigi, a reformist and aspirant for Assistant Executive Secretary of KUPPET Murang’a, eligible teachers are being illegally transferred into agency membership, a classification that automatically strips them of voting rights. Murigi alleges that the move is selectively targeted at teachers perceived to support reformist leadership within the union.
“In Murang’a County alone, more than 1,500 teachers, many of whom have served for over 20 years, have been irregularly moved into agency membership without their consent or any due process,” Murigi said.
He added that most of the affected teachers only discovered the change when they attempted to verify their voting status.
Murigi further claims that the changes are being effected through the TSC IPPD without official communication to the teachers concerned, raising serious questions about transparency, legality and abuse of administrative systems for political ends.
The situation has been worsened by accusations that KUPPET headquarters has failed to release the voters’ register within the timelines prescribed by the Registrar of Trade Unions (RTU).
RTU guidelines require the register to be published at least 60 days before elections to allow verification and correction of anomalies.
Murigi says the practice of releasing the register on election day is deliberate and designed to block scrutiny.
“This secrecy undermines trust and makes it impossible to conduct free and fair elections,” Murigi stated.
ALSO READ:
72 teachers at Cardinal Otunga-Mosocho School retooled on new curriculum
According to Murigi, Murang’a branch elections were suspended following a court order after the union failed to produce a valid voters’ register.
He says teachers are now demanding decentralized voting at sub-county level, arguing that the Ksh 3.1 million collected in nomination fees is more than sufficient to support transparent and accessible elections.
He warned that unless all teachers who have served for at least six months are restored to full membership and included in the voters’ register, affected members will pursue legal action to protect their rights.
“The weaponization of agency membership is not an administrative error; it is a direct assault on union democracy,”
Murigi said, calling on KUPPET leadership to uphold accountability, transparency and the will of teachers.
By Philip Koech
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
