A ‘rebel’ group has emerged within the Teachers’ Union (Knut) and that of the High School and College Teachers (Kuppet) which now wants the union leaders to resign. The group, led by Ms Martha Omollo, claims that Kuppet and Knut leaders have failed to defend the interests of teachers.
The ‘rebel’ teachers say that General Secretary Knut Collins Oyuu and his colleague Kuppet Akelo Misori are collaborating with the government to ‘harass’ teachers by demanding that they return to college for compulsory training at Sh6,000 a year. “Kuppet leaders who have ventured into politics to resign. The leaders are Mr Omboko Milemba who is now the Emuhaya MP, Mr Ronald Tonui who is the Member of Parliament for Bomet Central and the Bungoma Women’s Representative Ms Catherine Wambilyanga, ”said Ms Omollo.
The group also wants Mr Misori, Kuppet Wicks treasurer Mwethi Njenga and deputy secretary general Moses Nthurima to resign ‘because they have reached retirement age’.
Mr Misori, however, dismissed the call, saying he was 58 years old and had not reached retirement age. According to Mr Misori, Kuppet’s constitution allows leaders to serve until the age of 65. “Kuppet’s constitution was amended in 2017 and now allows leaders to get involved in politics,” said Mr Misori.
The group alleges that Mr Oyuu violated Knut’s constitution and should resign. “Knut’s law states that the party represents the interests of primary, secondary and tertiary teachers. But when Mr Oyuu went to sign the agreement with the government he said Knut represents the interests of primary school teachers only, ”she said.
Ms Omollo was accompanied by leaders of the ‘rebel’ group, namely Mr David Mwembei, Timothy Nderitu, Ms Betty Koech and Ms Salvin Munene. The group has threatened to register the opposition if Mr Misori and Mr Oyuu and their leaders refuse to resign. The group says teachers were not consulted in the TPD.
The Teachers service Commission (TSC) has asked them to return to school to study six courses. They will be studying during holidays at some universities and one course will take a period of five years and they will pay Sh6,000 annually.
The case against the TPD plan has already been filed in court with Parliament. “All teachers employed by TSC will not return to school as we do not agree with the TPD plan,” said Ms Omollo
TSC is currently performing two roles; hiring teachers and then monitoring their performance by punishing teachers who violate ethics. The teachers claimed that the TSC had been hurting teachers by performing those two duties
