Teachers besiege KNUT office, want Sossion out

Nominated Member of Parliament Wilson Sossion remained marooned in his office for the better part of Wednesday, as teachers demanded his exit as Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General.

The teachers argue that Sossion’s nomination to Parliament means he cannot continue to serve as an official of their  trade union.

“We need a teachers representative who is full time not engaged in other issues,” said Robert Karume, Chairman KNUT, Nairobi branch.

The teachers who took to Mfangano street in  Nairobi’s CBD, right outside the KNUT offices, insisted that Sossion hands over to his deputy; Prof. Hesbon Otieno.

” Teachers are professionals they serve under the Teachers Service Commission, the person who is now leading them is even de-registered as a teacher, only a teacher can lead his fellow teachers,”

Those loyal to Sossion however secured him in the office,at one point, in efforts to rattle the protesting group into dispersing, they doused them with water from the upper floors.

All that while, the National Executive Council of the union was locked away in a meeting with Sossion.

The acting chairman, Wycliffe Omuchei  however told Citizen Digital that Sossion will continue to serve in office as Secretary General.

Former Labour Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie had in December last year through a gazette notice, barred trade union officials from holding office after nomination or election to Parliament in line with Article 77 of the Constitution.

In January this year, the Teachers Service Commission sacked Sossion together with Emuhaya Mp and KUPPET chairman Omboko Milemba and Bomet Central Mp Ronald Tonui who serves as KUPPET’s assistant treasurer, insisting that they seized to be teachers upon their election and nomination to Parliament.

The now beleaguered KNUT boss however insisted that he had opted out of TSC’s pay role in 2001 when he was elected as KNUT Executive Secretary for the then Bomet district branch.