The battle for leadership at the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) took a new twist on Friday, May 14, after delegates from Rift Valley region resolved to support the union’s first National Vice Chairperson Collins Oyuu, who is seeking to unseat embattled Secretary General Wilson Sossion in the election slated for next month.
The delegates, drawn from North Rift and South regions respectively, made the resolution during a meeting held at an Eldoret hotel that was attended by top Kenya National Union of Teachers led by Oyuu.
They vowed to send Sossion who is also ODM nominated MP home over what they termed as poor leadership that has led to mass exodus of members to rival unions since he took over the leadership of union one decade ago.
A door to door campaign, they pointed out, will be carried out in each of the union’s sub branches in the expansive Rift Valley region to rally members to cast their vote in favor of their preferred candidate Collin Oyuu.
Led by Kipchumba Arusei, the Knut executive secretary in Uasin Gishu County, the group told Sossion to humbly step down ahead of the national election or face the wrath of the delegates during the polls.
Arusei took issue with the outgoing secretary general in the manner he has been running the union affairs, a trend he claimed has drastically led to its financial problems due to a rift between him and the government.
“The only way to salvage the once formidable teachers union from going down completely is by sending Sossion home because he has failed the leadership test by pre-occupying himself in a fight with the government,” noted Arusei.
Speaking on behalf of delegates from South Rift, Sossion’s former friend turned foe Stanley Mutai, who is the Kericho Knut executive secretary said it was prudent to inject new leadership in the union to attract more members.
“We in South Rift have resolved to vote for a man and ensure Sossion does not retain his seat during the national election scheduled for next month. He is a big let down to the teaching fraternity in the country,” declared Mutai who is positioning to be Oyuu’s vice.
In his remarks, Oyuu castigated Sossion for running the union like personal property instead of involving all stakeholders on matters concerning the members across the country.
He said that it was sad that the several union branches have been forced to close down and send home workers due to lack of money for rent and reiterated his commitment to engage with the national government to facilitate speedy remittance of the union monthly dues .
Oyuu blamed Sossion for the woes facing the giant teachers union and vowed to rally all delegates across the country back his bid to unseat the outgoing secretary general from retaining the coveted seat.
“It is not a secret that Sossion has brought down the union since he took over leadership of the union. Knut is guided by the constitution and for all of us to succeed; we must observe and adhere to the constitution. We want tutors to have a peace of mind whey go about the duties,” he said