Rono Daniel is a man I have known for years, and one thing about him is clear: he is bold and never afraid to take a stand.
I first met Rono Daniel when he was employed at my station as a BOM teacher, teaching Mathematics and Business Studies. I remember the evening vividly. He joined us at Mwewe Resort, located between Kikopey and St. Mary’s Mission Hospital, Gilgil, along the Nakuru–Nairobi highway.
That evening, my then principal, F. Njuguna, who is now the principal of Mianzini Secondary School, introduced him to us.
As the only Kutit-speaking teacher at the station then, I could hardly hide my excitement at meeting a colleague who shared my linguistic background. Even though I knew the excitement might be short-lived, since BOM teachers often stay only for a year or two, I was still delighted to welcome him.
That evening was lively. We shared nyama choma and drinks while exchanging village banter amid cool music and occasional soft dances. It was one of those moments that builds friendships among colleagues.
But Rono Daniel is not new to controversy. I remember one incident when a disagreement with a female colleague escalated dangerously, and he nearly hit her with a stapler during a heated scuffle. The situation was eventually contained, but it revealed his fiery temperament. Rono may have acted under emotion since the colleague had joked carelessly about his visual disability.
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Rono has also ventured into leadership and politics. In 2021, he contested for the Organising Secretary position in the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) but later withdrew from the race of his own volition.
In the 2017 Kenyan General Election, Rono contested for the Nakuru senatorial seat.
Running on what many considered an unpopular party associated with Ekwee Ethuro, he still managed to garner an impressive 60,000 votes against the powerful Jubilee party wave. The election was eventually won in a landslide by Susan Kihika.
Now, Rono Daniel has once again stepped into the spotlight, this time in the courts.
He has filed what many observers describe as one of the most comprehensive legal challenges in the history of the Nakuru branch of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers. His petition lists over ten grounds seeking the annulment of the KUPPET Nakuru branch elections held on 7 February 2026.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court of Kenya, sitting in Nakuru on 11 March 2026, granted Rono leave to file a substantive application in the case. The matter is scheduled to be mentioned on 28 April 2026.
In the meantime, the court issued interim orders suspending the newly elected KUPPET Nakuru officials and restraining the Registrar from registering the election results until the case is heard and determined.
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In his strongly worded petition, Rono argues that his constitutional rights as a voter and as a union member were violated. He claims that despite serving as a school union representative, the union downgraded his membership status to an agency fee payer without his consent, thereby denying him the right to vote.
Speaking after the court session, Rono maintained that the case is not about personal ambition but about justice for teachers.
“This case is about protecting the democratic rights of teachers,” Rono said.
“You cannot downgrade a member’s status without consent and then deny them the right to vote. That is unconstitutional and unacceptable.”
Rono further stated that the issue affects not only him but many other teachers.
“There are about 1,800 teachers who were affected by this decision. We are confident that the court will consider our plight and restore our rights.”
According to him, the affected teachers are seeking two possible remedies from the court.
“We believe the court can either allow the affected members to vote under court supervision or annul the Nakuru elections altogether and order fresh polls,” he said.
As the case awaits mention on 28 April 2026, many teachers across Nakuru County are watching closely.
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The outcome could significantly shape the future leadership and democratic processes within the union.
For Rono Daniel, however, the message remains clear:
“Justice must prevail, not just for me, but for every teacher whose voice was silenced.”_
As I wound my interview, Rono posed, ” If a KUPPET school rep can be clipped from register, what about an ordinary member?”
By Sir Chelule
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