Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) secretary general Wilson Sossion has intensified his campaign to reclaim the union’s top seat, setting up a direct contest with incumbent Collins Oyuu ahead of the April 3 national elections.
Sossion dismissed Oyuu’s claims that he is barred from the race, insisting that he remains a fully paid-up member of the union. “I’m a fully paid-up member of KNUT since September 1, 1993 when I joined the teaching service. Even when I stepped out in 2021, I have paid my union dues in full up to and including June 2026, and even paid supplementary dues, which is allowed internationally,” he said.
Oyuu, speaking after a union meeting in Embu on March 18, had questioned Sossion’s eligibility, arguing that KNUT does not recognise “life membership.” He maintained that membership is strictly by contribution and governed by the union’s constitution. “KNUT is not a banana republic. Take your time and go elsewhere, fetch for other things,” Oyuu said.
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The dispute over membership was effectively settled on February 27 when the Court of Appeal ruled that Sossion’s deregistration by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in 2019 was unlawful. While the court acknowledged that TSC had grounds to terminate his employment following his political nomination, it found the process procedurally unfair, restoring his status as a teacher and clearing the way for his participation in union elections.
Sossion, who led KNUT from December 2013 to June 2021 before resigning to focus on his role as a nominated MP, says his comeback is driven by pressure from teachers. He accused the current leadership of weakening the union’s voice. “The clamour for me to go back to KNUT is not my initiative. It is the initiative of teachers across Kenya because Oyuu and his group have reduced the union from a vibrant Marxist union to a silent social union that sees nothing, hears nothing and says nothing about teachers,” he said.
The elections are scheduled to take place at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu on April 3, preceded by nominations at a special delegates conference a day earlier. Delegates will vote by secret ballot.
Sossion challenged Oyuu to prepare for a democratic process and allow both names on the ballot. “I’m eligible. Oyuu should prepare for a democratic process and accept both our names on the ballot, or alternatively, because he is retired, step aside,” he said.
He criticised what he described as a growing culture of retirees clinging to union leadership. “We have a bad culture where retirees are running unions. That is wrong. They cannot speak for their grandchildren. I want to face a teacher under 60 on the ballot,” he added.
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At 57, Sossion said he would not have contested if a younger teacher had stepped forward to challenge for the secretary general position. According to KNUT’s constitution, full-time officers vacate office after serving a five-year term, and no one is eligible for re-election upon attaining 65 years of age.
By Masaki Enock
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