By Roy Hezron
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) is set to hold its Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) on December 18, 2021 in Eldoret. The election of union trustees will be among the agenda.
The KUPPET Constitution provides that the three national trustees should be elected in the first ADC after the general elections, which was supposed to be held last year but postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The union structure has divided the country into three regions with the first region consisting of branches in Coast and North Eastern regions, the second region consisting of branches in Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley while the third region consists of branches in Nairobi, Eastern and Central regions. Each region is expected to elect a trustee.
The fourth trustee slot is reserved for Mr. Tom Chariga, the founder of KUPPET and who is currently a permanent trustee of the union.
The main role of trustees is to safeguard union property in all the 46 KUPPET branches across the country.
Reliable sources indicate that most delegates would rather vote for candidates considered who will represent the interest of branch officials who feel oppressed by the national office.
A number of branch officials have shown interest in filling the three positions of the National Trustee.
Jacob Karura (KUPPET Executive Secretary Embu), Lynn Kamadi (KUPPET Executive Secretary Mombasa) and Lusweti Furaha (KUPPET Executive Secretary Trans-Nzoia) who currently hold the positions will be defending their seats.
William Lengoyiap (KUPPET Samburu Executive Secretary), Joseph Chebukaka from Nakuru and Kenneth Lopoghon from Baringo among others are determined to dethrone Furaha who is currently the trustee representing Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley regions.
Shedrack Mutungi (KUPPET Executive Secretary of Taita-Taveta), Yusuf Muhammed (Wajir), Claudia Timothy (Kilifi) and Ali Bashir (Wajir) are eying Kamadi’s seat who is the representative for Coast and North Eastern regions.Others are Charles Mukhwana and Dennis Walela all from Western region.
Speaking to Education News, Lengoyiap said he wants the Trustee seat to represent Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza and to guard with integrity the property of the Union against mutilation and entrenchment of laws and by-laws that may not serve the interest of the union members.
“I shall safeguard union issues with utmost confidentiality and not divulge Union information to persons who are not legally allowed unless directed by courts of law and qualified channels. I will always act in good faith to all Kenyan teachers and union organs for the best interest of KUPPET,” said Lengoyiap.
Mutungi, who is bagging on his 10 years’ experience as Taita-Taveta Executive Secretary, noted that he will contest for the post of the National Trustee so as to protect union property in all branches of KUPPET and at the national level.
‘I took this decision after consulting with branch officials from different counties and because of the inner push to help make the union better. I have seen the branch grow from zero membership to the current over 95 per cent membership of the total teachers in the country. I will use such experience and help the union and its membership. I have made Taita Taveta great so I can also make the union great countrywide,” said Mutungi.
Others who had anticipated to run for the position include Orwa Jasolo (Migori Executive Secretary), Sabala Inyeni (Vihiga Executive Secretary) and Joseph Abincha (Kisii Executive Secretary). However, none of these branch bosses had offered themselves for this election by the time we went to press.
Mr.Sabala confirmed to Education News that he is not in the race.
“It is true that a number of Delegates across the country had asked me to contest. However, I will disappoint them. Vihiga County already has the National Chairman, the second most influential position in our union, through Hon. Omboko Milemba. It will be a demonstration of greed to wrestle out with other branches which have no representation whatsoever in the national office on this trustee slot,” noted Sabala.
