After witnessing what he describes as divisive activities and unusual happenings within the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Kisumu Chapter, Mr George Osura felt compelled to help restore order and unity within the union.
Osura, who currently serves as the branch Executive Secretary, says he immediately set out to take over leadership of the union in Kisumu County.
Before ascending to the current position, Osura served for a long time as the Sports Secretary for Kisumu County, a role he says gave him the experience and leverage needed to contest for the top branch office.
He defeated his opponent by a huge margin during the branch elections, a victory he attributes to the strong networks he built over the years.
The soft-spoken union official says there had been bad blood between the union and various stakeholders, including the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), principals, and even some members of KUPPET.
He notes that the situation has since improved after he approached the issues with an open mind.
Osura says that while serving as Sports Secretary, he initiated several programmes that benefited members and endeared him to them before he declared interest in the position of Executive Secretary.
He adds that the many projects he initiated in different parts of Kisumu County also earned him support from KUPPET members and even the political class.
Osura says his next task is to recruit more members into the union while pursuing unresolved issues such as unfair promotions, the stalled Social Health Authority (SHA) services, and disparities in teacher transfers.
He says the Teachers Service Commission ought to transfer teachers during the December holidays to avoid disruptions in learning.
According to him, teachers, principals, and other stakeholders should be consulted before transfers are effected in order to avoid wrangles and conflicts.
On the national front, Osura wants the government to immediately absorb tutors currently serving on temporary terms.
He says the more than 40,000 teachers hired under internship programmes should now be employed permanently.
Osura argues that the Teachers Service Commission has no option but to absorb tutors hired as interns.
He says courts have already declared the internship programme illegal, while the TSC has since applied for an injunction.
“That in effect means the TSC has accepted liability, hence the need to employ the tutors,” he said.
Osura further demands that Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers be accorded full autonomy.
He says many JSS teachers feel demoralised while working in hostile environments.
According to him, qualified senior teachers can be hired to assist during the transition period.
At the same time, he called for the streamlining of SHA operations, noting that many teachers are still being turned away by some health facilities.
Osura says the capping of payments should not apply since teachers contribute to SHA through their salaries.
He notes that some health facilities charge as much as Sh4,000 as consultation fees, which he described as prohibitive.
READ ALSO: KUPPET Kisumu boss calls for orderly transfer of teachers and principals
The union official also criticised the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) for delaying payments to teachers who served as examiners last year.
Osura says national examinations are due again this year, yet some examiners have still not been paid.
The official was born in Nyakach Sub-county and attended local schools before joining Kagumo Teachers College. He later proceeded to Kampala International University, where he pursued his degree.
By Fredrick Odiero
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