Norah Musega
Drama reigned the KUPPET Migori County offices after a section of aspirants and teachers stormed the office demanding the eligible voters’ register.
Led by an independent candidate, Mr. John Obonyo who is vying for the Chairmanship of the union who had gone to present his nomination papers on Wednesday and Bernard Obonyo vying for Secretary Secondary under the Change team, they accused the officials who are also aspirants in the race for flaunting the laws governing the union elections.
“The register ought to have been availed to all teachers by November 16th since the elections have been scheduled for January 15th, 2021. We suspect malice in the manner in which the officials have addressed us in the office,” said Obonyo.
The teachers who also asked for the list of registered Burial Benovelent Fund members accused the officials led by the Executive Secretary Mr. Samuel Orwa of squandering the unions’ funds instead of advocating for the teachers.
“Teachers need a true advocate. The union officials are elected in the office to help advocate the interests and welfare of teachers something they have failed to do. Instead, the union concentrate on investing in land and other agendas while members are being interdicted by the employer,” added Obonyo.
While responding to the claims, Orwa refuted claims of commotion at his office on the said day noting that the aspirants were well served before they embarked on other programs of the day.
“No commotion was at my office on the said day. The aspirants who were at the office accompanied by their supporters had come to present their nomination papers for the forthcoming elections,” claimed Orwa.
The Executive Secretary noted that there is a file at his office where nomination papers of all interested parties in the election race will be kept and that he does not have to receive the documents himself since his office secretary is well advised on what to do.
“I do not also have the mandate to prepare the register as I am also an aspirant in the race and also for the sake of being fair. The register is prepared by the Teachers Service Commission, signed by the unions’ Secretary-General before it is given to the labor officers. I have not seen the register and no single county has received its register for eligible voters,” explained Orwa.
