By Kage Njoroge and John Ochieng
Campaigns for the influential slots at the giant Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) have entered the homestretch to the elections slated for early December during the union’s Annual Delegates Conference (ADC).
Aspirants eyeing the vacant positions are currently traversing the country to meet branch officials to canvass for support.
The lucrative seats open for contest include the First National Vice-Chairman, Assistant Secretary General and two slots of the National Executive Committee (NEC) member.
The positions fell vacant following retirement of officials holding them, thus attracting stiff competition from interested aspirants and various stakeholders with a keen eye on the union leadership.
The immediate former First National Vice Chairman Samson Kaguma retired early this year. The union’s national office appointed John Oyuu to the position in an acting capacity until polls were conducted.
Oyuu is the current elected Assistant Secretary-General, but after tasting the trappings of power in the vice chairmanship, he seems to have developed interest in the position.
Two NEC slots for Central Kenya region became vacant after the retirement of Harrison Gichira from Kirinyaga Branch.
The other occurred after Nyeri Branch chairman Patrick Karinga declared his interest to run for the First National Chairman. He is a member of NEC representing Central region.
Oyuu will be facing off with Karinga for the position naturally perceived to be a preserve of Central region within the union’s national leadership.
It has been revolving around officials from this region who instead support others to run for the National Chairman and Secretary General’s seats.
KNUT Gatundu Branch Executive Secretary John Macharia warned that the decision by Oyuu to vie for the seat is the easiest route to loss.
“As a region we deserve the seat after the retirement of Kaguma and we warn Oyuu not to toy with the idea of vying for the seat,” he said.
Now two camps have emerged as candidates roll out strategies to reach out to voters.
Oyuu has partnered with Clement Gicharu, the Kiambu East Executive Secretary who is contesting for Assistant Secretary General’s slot.
On the other hand, Clement Omollo, the Siaya Executive Secretary has formed an alliance with Karinga from Nyeri to woo voters.
Omollo is eyeing the Assistant Secretary General job, directly thrusting him in contention with his rival Gicharu.
The Siaya KNUT boss is now campaigning in the same faction with Karinga who is gunning the Vice-Chairmanship.
These camps have divided the union leadership down the middle as the top officials are pulling in different directions as the campaigns hot up.
To fill the two NEC seats, Murang’a South Branch has presented two aspirants- the branch Executive Secretary John Njata and his Treasurer John Karanu, while the Kirinyaga Branch Executive Secretary Javan Wachira has also thrown his hat in the ring.
Njata says if elected he will influence the policy-making processes which would enable the union to serve teachers better.
Speaking in his office to Education News, Njata says he will ensure teachers will get access to funds to build homes through housing Sacco societies. His branch is a success story in empowering educators to buy plots and construct their homes.
Another vacant seat doled out to the Coast region is that of the Second National Vice Chairperson.
National trustee Kadzo Unda, Taita-Taveta Branch Executive Secretary Rosalia Mkanjala and Kilindini Branch Executive Secretary Dan Aloo will be battling it out for the slot.
Electing either of the two ladies will introduce a paradigm shift in gender representation as this would be the first time KNUT would have a woman in that position since inception.
Whoever wins the hearts of the 1,887 delegates will put them in a position of influence on how the whopping Sh2 billion collected by the union annually in subscription fees is managed.
Rift Valley has the highest number of delegates, which stand at over 500, followed by Eastern at 393. Nyanza has 330 with Western emerging third at 239.
Central has 217 slots with Coast following at 140. Nairobi has 44 delegates and North Eastern 21.
The polls will take place during the AGM slated for December 13-15 this year.
In Nyanza region, the NEC post fell vacant when Geofrey Mogire who was holding the post was seconded to county government of Kisii serving as a chief officer.
The post has now attracted a total of six aspirants that include the front runner Kennedy Nyamwanda who is the current Nyamira branch Chairman, Manga branch executive secretary Nicholas Nyangau, Kisii central executive secretary Albert Onkoba Onderi.
Others are Gucha executive secretary Lucy Michuki and Gucha south Chairman Mr James Obiri.
A survey carried out by Education News placed Kennedy Nyamwada ahead of the rest as many argue that most NEC members who are currently serving in the region are executive secretaries.
Some of the serving NEC members in the region includes Rachuonyo south executive secretary Eliud Ombori ,Homa Bay branch treasurer Hilda Otieno, Kisumu branch executive secretary Roche Agallo and Olando Edward from Kisumu representing people living with disability.
Nyamwanda would also be getting a boost with the fact that his wife who is also a teacher hails from luo Nyanza and has been crisscrossing the region soliciting votes for him.
However another serious contender giving Nyamwanda a run for his money is Albert Onkoba Ondimu who enjoys a relatively massive following in Kisii region.
Onsare Albert equally enjoys reasonable popularity that cannot be taken for granted.
