Aspirants vying for various Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) positions in Elgeyo Marakwet County have expressed fears over a possible lack of transparency in the upcoming branch elections.
The aspirants claimed that remarks allegedly made by some union officials point to an election process that may not be free or fair. They accused the current leadership of openly taking sides; a move they said undermines democratic principles within the union.
Speaking to the press on behalf of the group, Titus Chugor, who is contesting the position of Branch Executive Secretary, insisted that the power to choose leaders lies solely with teachers.
“Teachers are the ones who will decide their leaders, not a few individuals with personal interests,” said Chugor.
He further challenged the current Executive Secretary to clarify remarks in which he was allegedly quoted saying he must be declared the winner of the forthcoming elections.
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“Such statements are unacceptable and cast serious doubt on the credibility of the electoral process,” Chugor said.
Chugor, who pledged to fully defend the rights and welfare of teachers if elected, also decried what he termed as illegal, punitive and irregular transfers of teachers within the county.
The aspirants also accused their competitors of spreading false information in a bid to intimidate voters, maintaining that teachers are fully aware of their rights.
“We will not allow anyone to breach our rights or manipulate the process through propaganda,” Chugor added.
The KUPPET elections are scheduled to take place on February 14 and 15. The aspirants have now appealed to the union’s National Executive Board to intervene and guarantee a fair, transparent and peaceful election.
Despite their concerns, the aspirants praised the government for its commitment to abolish the Career Progression Policy in June and replace it with a Scheme of Service.
“The proposed scheme will ensure automatic promotion for teachers after serving in a job group for three years, which is a welcome move,” they said.
By Kimutai Langat
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