A deepening dispute has emerged within the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) after a formal petition was filed seeking to suspend the union’s national elections scheduled for April 18, 2026.
The petition by Immediate former KUPPET Samburu Branch Executive Secretary William Lengoyiap alleges blatant violations of the union’s constitution and accuses top officials of deliberately disregarding the law.
Addressed to the Commissioner of Labour and copied to the union’s Secretary General, Lengoyiap centres on alleged non-compliance with Article 8.2.0(b)(ii) of the KUPPET Constitution.
The article provides for the appointment of delegates through properly convened Branch General Assemblies (BGAs).
These appointed delegates form the majority in the Special Delegates Conference responsible for electing the National Executive Board.
He maintains that no valid Branch General Assembly was convened in his branch to appoint delegates as required by the constitution.
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The unionist claims that individuals currently listed as appointed delegates were not selected through a lawful or transparent process, thereby compromising the legitimacy of the entire electoral exercise.
He strongly criticised the process, terming it unlawful and deliberate.
“They are conducting this election with utter disobedience of the law.They know very well that the process is illegal, but they are pushing on regardless. We do not understand who is protecting them to disobey the constitution and get away with it,” he said.
He further alleged double standards in the eligibility of candidates seeking union positions.
According to him, retirees have allegedly been cleared to contest for leadership positions within the teachers’ union, while active classroom teachers face barriers.
“It is shocking that retirees are being cleared to contest in a teachers’ union while serving classroom teachers are being blocked and in some cases blocked by the very retirees,” he claimed.
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He added:“That defeats logic and undermines the spirit of representation.”
The executive secretary warned that since appointed delegates constitute the majority in the Special Delegates Conference, any irregularity in their selection renders the entire process legally questionable.
“If the foundation is unconstitutional, then whatever outcome emerges from that conference cannot stand the test of legality,” he remarked.
The petition calls for the immediate suspension and rescheduling of the elections to allow all branches to comply strictly with constitutional requirements.
It cautions that proceeding under the current circumstances risks plunging the union into prolonged legal battles and internal division.
By the time of publication, KUPPET headquarters had not issued an official response to the allegations.
The controversy now casts a shadow over the credibility of the upcoming polls and raises broader concerns about governance, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law within the union.
By our reporter
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