Ambitious battles is shaping up in the leadership changes of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) branches across the Western region as a spot check revealed close contests in all the four counties in the region.
In Kakamega, branch Chairman Johnston Wabuti will be taking on long serving Executive Secretary Harrison Otota, who has been at the helm for 15 years. Wabuti has the support of a majority of the Branch Executive Committee (BEC) members. He is seen as the most appropriate candidate to replace Otota who is nearing his retirement age.
Otota has been vocal in championing issues affecting members for many years. For instance last year, he was arrested after his team stormed a secondary school where teachers had turned up for duty during the strike period. BEC member Wilbroda Shinanda caught everyone’s attention in a viral video when she publicly lectured Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi in a teacher’s forum early this month. Reports indicate that both camps are scrambling to field her in one of the top positions.
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In Bungoma, branch Chairman David Barasa will take on long serving Executive Secretary Augustine Luketelo, who has served since 2011. Youthful teachers see Barasa as the face of the much needed change in the branch leadership. Those in the know consider Bungoma as the cradle of Kuppet politics, with its wave having the potential to sweep and influence voting patterns in most parts of the country.
In Vihiga, all eyes will be on Charles Otiende who is said to be enjoying unmatched support from one of the top brass in the union National office. Otiende has served KUPPET Vihiga for 10 years as Secretary for Secondary Schools. Former branch Chairman Wilson Okutoyi from Essunza Secondary School in Emuhaya sub-county alias Pablo, who joined the race for the top seat last month, has caused ripples in what was supposed to be a smooth succession plan for Vihiga branch. Reliable sources indicate that senior teachers have thrown their weight behind Okutoyi, expressing fear about Otiende’s ability to articulate teachers’ issues while taking a firm position on controversial issues affecting members.
A few months ago, the incumbent Executive Secretary Sabala Inyeni surprised many when he declared that he won’t be defending his seat as the branch boss, but rather go for branch Organising Secretary, for sole purpose of presenting his candidature to the National office.
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Sabala has declared interest in vying for KUPPET National Organizing Secretary seat, and he has been so vocal in articulating teacher’s issues both in the region and at national level. It is said that Sabala’s vote block will be key in swinging this close contest for the position of Executive Secretary, which is now hotly contested between Okutoyi and Otiende.
In Busia, Western Regional Trustee Charles Mukhwana, who is also the branch Chairman, will be seeking to contest the position of Executive Secretary, against Moffats Okisai. Okisai, a very vocal unionist with a huge following across the county, has been the Executive Secretary for 10 years now. A good number of BEC members in the county are said to have thrown their weight behind Okisai, describing him as “good enough to occupy one of the national seats” come the union National elections.
Registrar of Trade Unions is expected to give a notice next month to trade unions to start conducting elections with KUPPET branch elections being expected to begin in January 2026, which will later be followed with KUPPET National elections.
By Roy Hezron
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