Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Vihiga branch Executive Secretary Sabala Inyeni, has officially declared his ambitions for the post of the union National Organizing Secretary, as post –primary teachers enters the race to seek various positions in the union branches in next year’s polls.
In a viral post seen by Education News and which Sabala confirmed as true, the outspoken unionist revealed that he will not defend his seat in the forthcoming branch polls but rather he will be going for the position of branch organizing secretary for the sole purpose of presenting his candidature in the union national elections.
The KUPPET Constitution demands that any candidate seeking to contest a national position must first resign from the branch as an official, with Sabala revealing further that he will be throwing his weight behind a Branch Executive Committee (BEC) member for the position of Executive Secretary.
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“I will be seeking the position of Organizing Secretary for the sole purpose of presenting my candidature for the National Executive Board (NEB), commonly referred to as the National office. Selfless leaders have a cardinal duty to mentor and pave way for those who can replace them within the organization,” said Sabala.
“Of course my move is unprecedented, since it is something people don’t expect. We live in a country where people have a natural tendency to stick to power, even when their relevance has been overtaken by time. I believe I can add value to the running of this union at the top. I also believe it is about time we got some fresh blood at our national office,” he added.
Sabala is remembered for publicly opposing the controversial Teacher Professional Development (TPD) when it was rolled out in 2021 alongside other officials among them being Orwa Jasolo(Migori), Robert Miano (Laikipia), Moses Kimwere (Isiolo), William Lengoyiap (Samburu) and Peter Omondi Oluoch (Tana River).
Taita Taveta
In Taita Taveta branch, Ismael Omoke, who is the youngest branch boss and official in KUPPET in the country, has declared that he will be defending his position as KUPPET Taita Taveta Executive Secretary in the next coming polls.
Omoke rose faster through the ladder as Assistant Executive Secretary to Executive Secretary following Shadrack Mutungi’s appointment as a County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in 2023.
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“Yes, I’ll be defending my position as KUPPET Taita Taveta Executive Secretary. I want to continue serving teachers in this great branch and I’ll be in the ballot box come next year. I am defending the seat because I have been able to get to know how the union operates and gained experience for the period I have served as an Assistant Executive Secretary and now the Executive Secretary,” remarked Omoke.
“I have been on the forefront in helping teachers through creating a good rapport with MoE and TSC directors at regional and county level and we are working well with principals, a move that has really reduced conflicts since we solve teachers’ issues through dialogue and not through show cause letters and interdictions. I understand the real challenges affecting teachers in Taita Taveta. I am a unifying factor and a teachers’ project and not anyone’s project. I am better placed to continue voicing teachers’ demands in this branch,” he added.
Omoke will be battling it out with Godfrey Lumula, a Maths/Chemistry teacher from Dr. Aggrey High School in Wundanyi Taita sub-county, who is riding on enhancing teachers’ welfare and inclusivity, and who is entering the race for the first time.
“I am going for the seat because there are things I am seeing they are not going straight and teachers have been having a number of issues in the branch like matters of promotion, health, and transfers which have not been be articulated and handled well,” said Lumula.
By Hezron Roy
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