The 2026 Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Bomet Branch elections held recently at Itembe Secondary School, have exposed the deepening rift within the union, as two major factions, Team Sossion and Team Malel Langat, clashed in a high-stakes contest for leadership positions.
Team Sossion, aligned with former KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion, secured key administrative positions, demonstrating a strong base among rank-and-file teachers.
Desmond Langat emerged victorious as executive secretary with 901 votes, defeating Paul Sang, who garnered 769 votes. Geoffrey Bett won the assistant executive secretary seat with 981 votes, and Peter Rono claimed the treasurer position with 970 votes.
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Analysts say these wins signal a consolidation of Sossion’s influence at the branch level, giving his allies control over critical operational and financial portfolios.
Conversely, Team Malel Langat, allied to KNUT Vice National Chairman Malel Langat, captured strategic leadership positions that could influence the union’s political trajectory. Davis Mitei won the chairman seat with 889 votes, narrowly surpassing Richard Cheruiyot’s 743, while Betty Langat secured the woman representative position with 840 votes against Betty Mutai’s 712.
Observers note that while Sossion’s faction controls administrative machinery, Malel Langat’s faction holds the symbolic and political top seat, a dynamic that could shape Bomet Branch politics for years to come.
The vice chairperson contest also highlighted the rivalry: Walter Cheruiyot of Team Sossion won with 855 votes, beating Washington Kirui’s 584 and Thomas Mutai’s 227. Meanwhile, the assistant treasurer post went to Godfrey Rono of Team Sossion with 900 votes over Geoffrey Kitur’s 768. The PWD representative position was unopposed, reflecting consensus on inclusivity for marginalized members.
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Election observers described the exercise as competitive yet largely peaceful, although 204 invalid votes and seven spoilt ballots indicate a need for voter education. The results reflect a broader struggle for influence within KNUT, where national alliances are playing out at county levels.
Political analysts say the Bomet outcome is a microcosm of KNUT’s ongoing internal realignments. “We are witnessing a careful balancing act — Sossion’s allies hold the operational reins, while Malel Langat’s supporters control the top political office,” said one teacher leader.
He added: “It sets up an interesting power dynamic that could affect decision-making, union negotiations, and upcoming national union elections.”
For Bomet teachers, the election marks both a consolidation of experienced leadership and a reminder of the factional tensions that continue to shape KNUT’s direction. Both sides now face the task of working together to advance teacher welfare while navigating their strategic rivalries.
By Philip Koech
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