Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Wilson Sossion has strongly defended his legacy in Kenya’s education sector, reaffirming that his rise to union leadership was driven by merit and a lifelong commitment to quality education.
Sossion was speaking during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and thanksgiving ceremony at Cheborge Boys High School in Bureti Sub-County, Kericho County, on Friday, where he addressed teachers, education stakeholders, and community leaders.
“I am not new to education. I have been a teacher-not just a teacher, but among the best in Kenya,” Sossion said.
He recalled how he used to enter performance contracts with his students, committing to ensure they scored grade A in his subject and consistently delivering results.
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The former KNUT boss dismissed claims that his leadership journey was accidental, saying he earned his position through competence and dedication.
“I did not become a union leader by accident but by merit,” he told the gathering.
Reflecting on his tenure at KNUT, Sossion said his primary vision was to retain teachers within the education system by improving their working conditions and motivation.
According to him, demoralized teachers could not effectively deliver quality education.
Sossion noted that his experience in education leadership extends beyond Kenya, having worked regionally and globally in developing frameworks for quality education delivery.
He said many countries lack a well-organised education system comparable to Kenya’s.
“Kenya has always been a case study in quality education,” he said, adding that the country remains one of the leading countries in Africa in access, equity and education standards.
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On teachers’ welfare, Sossion highlighted achievements made during his leadership, noting that poor pay had previously forced many teachers into side businesses, a situation he described as a mockery of the profession.
He said this changed after successful negotiations that resulted in an additional Sh73 billion being added to the teachers’ payroll, significantly improving teachers’ economic stability.
“This restored dignity to teachers and strengthened their economic lives,” he said.
Sossion’s remarks come at a time when there is growing speculation that he may challenge incumbent KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu, a move that could reshape leadership dynamics within the powerful teachers’ union.
By Philip Koech
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