Rival Knut and Kuppet differ on teachers defection

By Linah Benyawa

MOMBASA, KENYA: Over 200 members of the Kenya Post Primary Education (KUPPET) have defected to the rival Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut).

But KUPPET claims members who defected on Wednesday have began to return.

Mombasa KUPPET Executive Secretary Linet Kamadi claimed she was aware of only 20 defections but claimed they were returning to KUPPET after the government agreed to harmonise teachers’ commuter allowances with that of civil servants.

She claimed that the government has agreed to pay commuter and harmonized responsibility allowances.

Drawn from Mombasa County the defecting teachers expressed their disappointments with KUPPET accusing it of being the “government’s project” and kowtowing to the Teachers Service Commission and Education ministry .

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The defectors also accused KUPPET of capitulating so fast and failing to negotiate effectively.

One of the teachers Samuel Jilo who is Miritini secondary school Kuppet representative accused his former union of letting members down and said he believes he will be better represented by KNUT.

“Kuppet is a government project and teachers will not be party to those games. We want a union that will defend the rights of teachers and not playing games with us,” said Jilo.

He said that more that 12 teachers from Changamwe secondary school have defected to Knut.

Some of the Kuppet members who defected to Knut are Christine Kilishwa, Wendy Nyachaki, Getrude Otieno from Tononoka Secondary school, Miriam Cherono Coast Girls , Ondiek Charles who is Kuppet Mombasa regional coordinator, Charo Fondo who is Kuppet’s Changamwe regional coordinator.

Mombasa County Knut Executive Secretary who led the registration and recruitment exercise at the Treasury square said his union is expecting more teachers to leave KUPPET.

He said KNUT has received members from many schools including 24 from Mama Ngina Girls 24 members from Changamwe secondary 30, 12 from Miritini secondary school, 18 from Shariff Nassir Girls, 20, Coast Girls, 18 memebers from Likoni Secondary schools, 8 from Puma High School, 33 from Moi Forces Academy, 14 from Mtongwe girls, 13 from Shika Adabu secondary school, 24 from Kajembe high school and 23 from St Luanga Secindary school.

“The Kuppet members have realized that the union is a let down that is why they are returning to the giant union because they know we will fight for their rights and ensure all their demands are met.

Oloo said that the registration was open to all post primary teachers who wishes to defect from Kuppet.

On Tuesday, Kuppet and Knut differed after the previous ended the strike with an aim of opening negotiations with the government while Knut decided to stay put and press for their demands.