By Staff Reporter
The teaching fraternity is anxious as the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) elections slated for May draw closer.
The question many are asking is whether the long serving Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion will retain his seat.
Knut has in the recent past endured a scathing onslaught from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) which has crippled the once giant union.
His re-election bid faces a massive challenge should KNUT Treasurer John Matiang’i, a brother to the powerful Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, vie for the coveted position.
Sources within the union say the burly National Treasurer is drawing his own line-up to take on Sossion’s during the special delegates’ conference that will elect national officials in May.
“Now that the former National Chairman Wycliffe Omucheyi has retired, Matiang’i feels he’s the senior most official who has what it takes to oust Sossion,” said a senior Knut official.
The source said the acting Knut chairman Collins Oyuu is also in the race for the position.
Some teachers, including branch executives, have fallen out with the fire spitting Sossion, who they accuse the union’s current woes.
Knut is on its knees because remittance from teachers is at its lowest after members dropped from 180,000 to about 30,000.
Sossion and some politicians, among them ODM leader Raila Odinga, blame TSC for the predicaments the union is going through.
In a strong-worded statement, the ODM leader recently said: “Through a series of intentional actions, the TSC has disabled and is now en route to killing Knut.”
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli and Ugenya MP James Orengo have told TSC to stop hemorrhaging KNUT.
After several failed coups against Sossion in 2017, 2018, 2019, the battle seems to have now moved into a new phase.
Branch officials who supported him for many years are also itching to take him on in the next elections. They include the Kericho Executive Secretary Stanley Mutai, who is expected to-retire from service a year from now.
Members interviewed expressed mixed reactions saying they are now focused on the ongoing branch elections after which they will look at the national polls.
Bomet Executive Secretary Malel Lang’at, who was re-elected in the just concluded branch elections, said those seeking national positions should seek votes from delegates in all branches.
“We have been endorsing those fellows in the head office for ages but this time let each seat have challengers so that we elect the best,” said Lang’at.
Gucha branch Executive Secretary Lucy Machuki, who has also been re-elected, said she will not support Sossion’s candidature in the coming national elections.
“I am not supporting Sossion’s candidature and I am speaking it loudly because he has destroyed the union. By fighting the government, you can’t win,’ said Machuki.
Officials in Butere, Mumias, Kakamega North, Lugari, Bungoma North, Teso, Kakamega Central and Hamisi have blamed Sossion for mismanagement of union affairs, leading to a mass exodus of members.
They vowed to push for Sossion’s removal, saying the union that was once great was on the verge of collapse as a result of bad leadership.
In the resolution read by Kakamega North Branch Treasurer Emily Mito, the officials called on the National Executive Council members to allow a change of guard through free and fair elections.
But Emuhaya Knut Executive Secretary Clement Opole differed saying it was too early to take a stand since branch elections are not yet concluded.
“I think these other branches are rushing in making decisions because they are not yet elected. How sure are they that they will be elected?” posed Opole.
The Busia Knut Executive Secretary Patrick Mulamba supported Opole, adding that they were focused on branch elections after which they will give their position on national elections.
“People on the ground have mixed views and the statement of one person may not be a true representative of the whole membership,” stated Omoto who is defending his set in the branch elections.
The sentiments were echoed by Knut Executive Secretary Meru South Albert Njeru.
Pundits describe Sossion as a tough schemer capable of pulling a shocker, given that he has managed to survive against all odds staked against him.
The State, through TSC, has unleashed all manner of weapons against him, including whittling down KNUT membership and denying the union agency fees, but the ODM Nominated MP has managed to hang on by all means.
The on-going Knut branches election seem to have rejuvenated him and he has been sending shockwaves against his adversaries.
During the Baringo Knut elections in Kabarnet town last week, Stanley Sumukwo, who unsuccessfully sought to unseat Executive Secretary Joshua Cheptarus, accused Sossion of meddling in the elections.
“There is no way the whole office could have retained their seats if not through the influence of Sossion and also because money changed hands,” said Sumukwo.
Sossion has warned that teachers will not blindly support the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) unless TSC stops destroying the union.
He said that since the government is using TSC to destroy Knut, teachers will not blindly support the BBI referendum.
“If the government decides to become stubborn on us then we will be stubborn against the BBI,” Sossion said.
Mutai has declared his candidature for the position, but his critics claim he is being sponsored by Deputy President William Ruto’s Tangatanga wing of Jubilee, that is seeking to make inroads in the trade union movement.
Mutai has, however, dismissed the claims, saying he is his own man.
