More teachers dump Kenya union of post primary education teachers for rival union

By Standard Team

Teachers affiliated to the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) seemed not to have been moved by the signing of the deal by their national officials with the Government.

In Narok County, teachers instead seized the opportunity to defect to the rival Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) in what appeared to be their disappointment by the conduct of their national officials.

More than 320 Kuppet members ditched the union vowing not to look back despite the offer given by the Government under the new deal.

They were led by the region’s Kuppet’s organising secretary George Adera.

“No amount of offer would take us back to where we have come from. In fact, our journey is likened to that of the Israelites moving from Egypt to Canaan, the promised land. We better get nothing but feel represented by serious leaders. Kuppet has failed in providing proper leadership,” said Mr Adera.

The county Knut chairman, Bernard ole Ketere and Trans Mara branch union chairman Anthony Risa welcomed the teachers to the union and urged them not to be intimidated.

Mr Adera said their decision to join Knut was informed by the fact that Kuppet national officials called off the strike without ensuring members were assured they would get their salaries without consulting branch officials.

“We were shocked by the manner Kuppet national officials handled the teachers’ strike right from the beginning because they tried to introduce new items before ensuring that the demands, as stipulated in the Legal Notice 534, were first implemented fully,” he said.

Other officials who joined Knut included secretary tertiary institutions’ Kamau Muchiri, assistant Treasurer John Owino, Vice chairperson Ruth Wairimu, gender special interest’s Evelyn Korsai and gender representative Susan Atieno.

Disappointment

In Kericho, more than 500 teachers and a handful of tutors from Kericho Teachers Training College said they had decided to ditch Kuppet in favor of Knut over what they termed lack of drive by the former to fight for  teachers rights.

The defectors were welcomed by local Knut branch executive Stanley Mutai.

Francis Tonui, a teacher at Kipsigis Girls High School, said they felt betrayed.

Kericho Knut branch executive Stanley Mutai said:“It is a right of a teacher to associate with anything and anybody but if we form so many unions we can be easily be divided. United we stand strong,” he said.

In Baringo County, Kuppet members expressed disappointment following their national office action to call off the strike terming it a betrayal to teachers. The teachers were led by branch Chairman David Kibet and Treasurer Erick Kiprotich.

In Uasin Gishu, at least 500 Kuppet members claim to have decamped to Knut.