Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) 2026 national elections might take a different appearance after it emerged that a good number of branch officials are now willing to contest for the top seats in the union despite a number of hurdles facing them.
A good number of branch officials some of whom have talked in confidence have revealed to Education News that they will be in the ballot come 2026 even when the ongoing campaign to change the union constitution in order to remove that clause that requires them to resign first before seeking national elections won’t be removed.
According to the officials, with or without the clause, they are ready to take the bull by its horns come 2026 in what they term as a move to rebuild the union, restoring members trust to the union, and having fresh blood in the union national executive board; which is a crucial organ of the union.
KUPPET Vihiga Executive Secretary Sabala Inyeni and his Narok counterpart Charles Ng’eno became the latest branch officials to publicly declare their candidature, after KUPPET Migori Executive Secretary Samuel Orwa Jasolo did so early this year.
Sabala in a recent interview confirmed to Education News that he will contest a key slot in the 2026 KUPPET National elections, adding that he will soon disclose a specific seat that he will be going for come 2026.
“Yes, it is true I will be a candidate in the national elections. Teachers are asking very many questions whose responses we don’t have. It is a general feeling among KUPPET members that we inject some fresh blood in the national office. I have taken up that challenge to present myself for that election. In the next few months, I will disclose which seat I will be going for, consultations are in top gear,” said Sabala.
Sabala and Jasolo were among those branch officials who at one time in late 2021 were once removed from the union payroll for publicly opposing introduction of the then controversial Teacher Professional Development (TPD), with others being William Lengoiyap of Samburu, Moses Kimwere of Isiolo and Robert Miano of Laikipia.
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In January this year, Jasolo became the first branch official to publicly declare that he will be running for a top seat in the union during the 2026 union national elections, revealing that he was forced to go for the national seat, after pressure from teachers and delegates adding that he is still consulting members and delegates which seat he will go for during the elections, however, he did not hesitate to add that he will be taking the bull by its horns.
According to Ng’eno, there is need of change in the current national leadership of the union.
“Yes I will be contesting for the national seat in 2026. What I can assure you is that we are changing the national office. We need fresh blood at the national office and we have so many reasons to do that. The teachers must be given a new lease of life in terms of leadership, people who can negotiate for the teachers, who have interest for the teacher, and who will not sneak in a constitution that is not teacher friendly,” said Ng’eno.
KUPPET Nandi Executive Secretary Paul Rotich stated that he is currently making serious consultations countrywide regarding his candidature for the national executive board (NEB) seat in 2026.
“I am still consulting my team, but there is nothing which will prevent me from contesting for NEB seat in 2026. Even with the current constitution which requires that you resign immediately after getting elected at the branch level, we will,” said Rotich.
Reliable sources also hinted that Omondi Oluoch, who is KUPPET Tana River Executive Secretary with his Samburu counterpart Lengoyiap are also making serious moves in eying the top seats in the union in 2026.
In the 2021, all the current National officials of the union were re-elected unopposed to serve for another 5 years.
By Roy Hezron
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