By Norah Musega
Wilson Sossion’s dramatic exit from KNUT leadership has drawn mixed reactions from his fellow unionists and teachers, with some being against celebrating the move.
Sossion announced his resignation and withdrawal from the Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary general race pitting him against Henry Collins Oyuu hours before the elections commenced.
After he made the announcement through a press briefing, teachers took to various social media platforms regretting his move while others celebrated.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Migori branch Assistant executive secretary Gilbert Rolex Owino warned against celebrating the move taken by Sossion saying he has for years been a dedicated and selfless unionist who courageously fought and contributed to the betterment of teachers’ welfare across the board.
Owino said Sossion has clearly been fought by the national government through the Teachers Service Commission which has shown no interest in improving salaries and other employment agreements.
“Sossion remained firm on the demands made by Knut despite all the challenges he faced in the process a sign that he had the interest of teachers placed first before his own. His exit marks the beginning of downfall for one of the most active trade unions in the country. The government of today is out to kill Trade unions and they have started with Knut and, therefore, I urge my fellow unionists to remain firm in the fight towards improving the living standards of our members.” said Owino.
Speaking to Education News in Awendo town, Owino slammed the Salaries and Renumeration Commission (SRC) over its recent announcement of not increasing salaries for all civil servants for the next two years, saying this has not been welcomed by the union since its officials are in the process of discussing the 2020-2025 CBA and SRC has no power to make such declaration which can only be made by their employer the TSC.
The assistant executive secretary also slammed Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha for his recent announcement of plans to construct junior secondary schools worth Sh 900 million within primary school premises, saying most of the primary schools also have early childhood education (ECD) centres within the same compound, hence the construction of the junior secondary schools can only be suitable if it was done in the already existing secondary schools.
“We cannot have an ECD centre, primary and junior secondary schools in the same compound. The grade six candidates will be working extra hard to join junior secondary and it would only be right to have them in an environment suitable for secondary education not primary,” said Owino.
He also challenged the Education Cabinet Secretary and TSC to be clear on the teachers being targeted to teach in junior secondary schools.
Owino also slammed TSC chairperson Nancy Macharia over her announcement ordering unemployed P1 teachers to go back to college for another nine months saying it is unfair. He said the announcement won’t favour most of the P1 graduates who hail from poor families and also do not have jobs to be able to pay school fees.
“The TSC must come up with a fair plan for teachers. Rather than making such an announcement and in relation to the number of teachers who are not yet employed yet graduated, the TSC ought to have employed more teachers first then take them for CBC training rather than subjecting graduates without jobs and from poor families to another expense for nine months without an assuarance of being employed after the nine months training,” said.
