Moi couldn’t allow any child to die in school, says Sossion

Knut Secretary-General Wilson Sossion (left) addressing the press while paying tributes to the later former president Daniel Moi at Parliament building. [KTN News]

“Our greatest reflection of Mzee Moi is a bold brave man who understood the natural rights and desires of children through teachers.” These were the words of Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion as he eulogised former president Daniel arap Moi at Parliament buildings on Monday morning.

Sossion led a contingent of Knut members to pay their last respects.

The Knut boss, who is also a nominated MP, praised Moi for his contribution in ensuring that learners and teachers were safe during his 24 years of rule.

He said that since the retirement of former president Daniel Moi, inspectorate and quality assurance in the education sector have been on the decline.

“We have lost the inspectorate section and quality assurance. We call on the government to fully restore them... So that we can drive out the cartels taking up the ministry,” he said.

Sossion said that during the reign of Moi, the safety of the learners was not an issue of discussion

“Moi would not allow any child to die in school,” he stated.

“His hallmark was quality education and a strong and professional education system.”

He attributed the deaths of pupils from accidents in cases of buildings collapsing or school fires to the weakened inspectorate and quality assurance systems in the sector, which cropped up after Moi left office.

This comes after the Kakamega Primary School stampede which left 14 pupils dead and over 30 others injured in Kakamega County. In September 2019, a building collapsed and killed seven pupils and injured 57 in Precious Talents Academy in Nairobi County. The Ministry of Education was forced to relocate the learners at Ayany Primary School after the incident.

In his tribute, Mr Sossion lauded Moi’s contributions that led to the formation and registration of the Knut in 1984.

According to Sossion, the former president teamed up with other likeminded nominees at the Legco and moved a motion to have a common body to front the grievances of the teachers.

Mzee Moi’s body is at Parliament building for the third day of public viewing. Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta declared National Mourning and ordered flags to be flown half-mast after the demise of the former Head of State.

A memorial service is planned for Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi, tomorrow, ahead of internment at Kabarak in Nakuru County.