Senior and Junior Secondary School teachers in Trans Nzoia County will, from now on, work in stations where they feel secure and comfortable.
Moreover, 65 percent of the KUPPET dues from the national office will be directed towards service delivery, with every coin accounted for.
The branch will no longer accept one-page annual financial reports read out to members, but will require a detailed accounting of all projects undertaken by the office bearers.
Further, the Trans Nzoia Kuppet office will work closely with other branch officials nationwide to ensure the challenges facing teachers within and outside the classroom are addressed as quickly as possible.
It will also ensure the Burial and Benevolent kitty is properly managed, with funds directed only to the bereaved families.
The new branch leadership of the Chairman, Paul Weyama, Executive Secretary, Dan Kutai, and Treasurer, Ken Prichani, will guarantee every member’s right to freedom from harassment by their employer, the Teacher Service Commission (TSC), and by Ministry of Education (MoE) officials.
Perhaps these and other reasons are what propelled the recent changes in the Trans Nzoia KUPPET leadership, in which members voted out the old officials who had been at the helm for over two decades.
Only one official, the Organising Secretary, Francis Wanyoike, was retained, as he declared his intention to vie for a position in the Rift Valley Regional polls scheduled later in the month.
Outgoing Executive Secretary Furaha Lusweti and Chairman Eliud Wafula did not vie for the position after retiring from class work upon reaching 60 years of age.
Outlining the immediate challenges facing the office, Kutai accused the outgoing officials of not rising to the occasion when the teachers were being transferred “left, right and centre”, adding that this had resulted in some teachers contracting mental health risks for working in “toxic and insecure institutions”.
He cited salaries, promotions, medical schemes, and statutory deductions as critical areas affecting every unionised teacher and requiring immediate attention.
READ ALSO: Fresh leadership as Gathoni wins KUPPET Laikipia Secretary-General seat
Saying the buck stopped with the Executive Secretaries for any failure by the union to protect the welfare of teachers, the Trans Nzoia KUPPET spokesman described it as a ‘don’t-care’ attitude from the national office that prevents members from being subjected to many deductions from their payslips.
He cited the SHA and Taifa Care medical schemes, which were deducted from teachers’ salaries at the same time, as well as the NSFF and Provident, which served the same purpose.
Kutai said that under leadership and in collaboration with the national office, examiners will be paid on time, unlike the current situation, where it takes a long time to clear dues.
Other KUPPET officials elected to the branch include:
-
Vice Chair: Phillip Kibet
-
Assistant Executive Secretary: George Walubengo
-
Assistant Treasurer: Verah Eyase
-
Secretary, Senior Schools: Cecilia Nasimiyu
-
Secretary, Tertiary: Charles Nalianya
-
Secretary, Gender: Getry Injinia
-
Secretary, JSS: Aaron Mukwana
By Abisai Amugune
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
