The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Nyando Branch has called for amendments to the union's constitution that would allow elected, nominated or appointed officials to keep their membership while serving in political positions.
In a proposal to the union's national leadership, the branch is seeking changes to three provisions of the KNUT Constitution, Revised February 2022 Edition. It argues that the current rules could limit the union's influence and representation in political and socio-economic affairs.
The proposals are contained in a letter dated October 29, 2026, signed by Nyando Branch Executive Secretary Ephraim Onyango K'Anang'a. The letter has been forwarded to the Secretary General, the National Executive Council (NEC) and the National Advisory Council (NAC) for consideration.
The first proposal is an amendment to Article III (18). The provision currently requires a union member or official who is elected, nominated or appointed to Parliament, a county assembly or another organisation to give up their union membership if the position compromises the union's impartiality.
The branch wants the provision revised so that such members can keep their positions in the union if their political or other appointments complement and strengthen the union's networks and influence, provided they continue to uphold its interests.
The branch is also pushing for a guaranteed minimum allocation of six per cent of the monthly union subscriptions collected from each branch to go to its treasurer. It wants Article III 7(b), which gives the NEC powers to determine the percentage paid to branch treasurers, amended to set the six per cent threshold.
In another proposal, the branch wants the constitution to protect branch allocations from arbitrary reductions. It is seeking an amendment to Article III 7(c), which empowers the NEC to review subscription allocations, to ensure that any revision does not reduce a branch's share below 60 per cent of the total subscriptions collected from that branch.
K'Anang'a said the proposed changes were informed by experiences and observations from union members and officials. He said the current provisions could undermine the union's rights and influence amid changing political and economic circumstances, and urged the national organs to consider the amendments urgently.
The proposals now await consideration by the relevant KNUT organs before any decision on whether to start the constitutional amendment process.
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