Supremacy war: Central Knut officials root for Sossion fast removal
The giant Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) is headed for turbulent waters following spirited efforts by 10 of its branches in Central Kenya region to oust its national secretary general Wilson Sossion.
They are accusing Sossion of ineptitude in running the union and engaging the government in personal vendetta instead of spearheading the welfare of teachers.
“His exit following a Teachers Service Commission (TSC) move to deregister him is the sure way to rejuvenate the union which is losing confidence among its members,” said the leaders.
Union officials led by National Executive Committee (Nec) member John Karanu and Nyeri branch executive secretary, Mathenge Wanjau said the union boss has failed to consult Nec —the union’s top decion making body— in decision making, in contradiction of the its constitution.
The situation has led to sour relationships with the TSC, the teachers employer, which in turn has hit back by failing to involve Knut in crucial matters.
The officials talked to Scholar after holding a three-hour meeting at a Nyeri hotel. “Tutors from this region are aggrieved by Sossion’s lone- ranger tactics while dealing with serious education matters, exposing us to exploitation by TSC which is better organised,’’ said Karanu.
He decried Sossion’s move to demonise the new Competency-Based Curriculum, which he trashed and even incited teachers to block its implementation without consultations. “No wonder tutors defied him and went on with training,” he said.
Wanjau said the secretary general has on many occasions openly clashed with TSC, on matters which could be sorted out in boardrooms. “He has put the union’s branches into financial woes after TSC stopped deducting the union’s monthly contributions from teachers,” he lamented.
However, analysts say Central Kenya Knut officials have an axe to grind with Sossion whom they accuse of segregating the region. No official from the region holds a key post at the Knut national level despite it being founded in a garage in Ruiru.
