The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has defended the union’s newly amended constitution, stating that it is now inclusive.
Speaking after a press briefing in Nairobi yesterday, Deputy Secretary General Moses Nturima said the amendments were reached after extensive consultations and democratic processes.
Nturima, who was accompanied by KUPPET National Vice Chairman Julius Korir, said those who oppose the constitution have a right to do so, but the majority decides. He said the teachers, union leadership, and all stakeholders were engaged, and the constitution has been registered.
KUPPET stated after a meeting with selected leaders of historically marginalized groups within the union to assess the union’s constitution and develop a roadmap for its implementation.
The meeting brought together grassroots women leaders, teachers Living with Disabilities (PWDs), and the national leadership of Junior Secondary schools. The leaders supported the new amendment.
The amendments include expanding the union’s executive offices from 10 to 14 officials at the national and state levels to address diversity within the membership.
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The new offices established include the 1st Assistant National Secretary Gender /first Assistant Secretary Gender, the second Assistant National Secretary Gender/second assistant secretary gender (representing teachers abled differently), and the third National Secretary Gender/ third assistant secretary gender (representing the youth / young teachers).
The new structure will create a regional council to address representation gaps and align the union with the national government structures, which have officials at the regional level.
The new amendments include expanding the office of Trustees from four to nine due to the union’s growth and consequent acquisition of properties nationwide.
The pro system of appointing delegates to the national conferences will also be implemented; the union will adopt the democratic system to ensure equity in member representation.
Under the new system, that minimum number of 14 delegates per branch would be retained, but each county will get an additional delegate for every 100 members of the branch above the mandatory 300.
The new system has also entrenched the provision of section 33 of the Labour Relations Act, which allows all members of a trade union to vote and contest union elections provided that their subscriptions are not more than 13 weeks in arrears.
The new constitution has also retained the retirement age, which shall be sixty-five years.
The new amendments will take effect on January 21, 2026. This and the new positions will then be contested.
Nturima also stated that most Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers have joined the union and are paying agency fees. He said they will speed up making them members so that they can benefit fully as other members.
JSS teachers National Spokesperson Omari Omari said they were not forced to join the union; they only joined because they are post-primary teachers.
During the meeting, the various interest groups were directed to sensitize members on the new constitution and collaborate with the National Executive Board to lay the foundation for its implementation.
By Obegi Malack
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