Tensions Rise in KUPPET Ahead of National Governing Council Meeting.
Tension is mounting as the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) prepares for its upcoming National Governing Council (NGC) meeting scheduled for this Friday.
Concerns have emerged over a petition submitted by some branch officials to union Secretary General Akelo Misori. The petition calls for action against branch leaders who opposed the abrupt end to the recent union strike.
An internal memo, addressed to all branch Executive Secretaries—who are members of the NGC—was issued on September 18, 2024.
The memo invited the officials to attend the meeting, set to take place at Kasarani Sportsview Hotel in Nairobi. Although the agenda was not explicitly stated, the memo urged the attendees to be punctual for the 9:00 a.m. start.
The memo was sent amid rising suspicions and mistrust among union members, with expectations that the main focus of the meeting would be to assess the outcomes of the recently concluded strike.
However, it was revealed that approximately nine Executive Secretaries, who are believed to support the contentious decision to end the strike, had submitted a petition.
This petition seeks to discuss the conduct of several branch officials and determine whether disciplinary action should be taken.
Targeted Branch Officials
According to reports, the officials potentially facing disciplinary action include:
- Joseph Abincha (Kisii)
- Orwa Jasolo (Migori)
- Sabala Inyeni (Vihiga)
- Zachary Nyomboi (Baringo)
- Robert Miano (Laikipia)
- William Lengoyiap (Samburu)
- Paul Rotich (Nandi)
- Peter Omondi Oluoch (Tana River)
- Charles Ng’eno (Narok)
- Mary Rotich (Kericho)
- Paul Kimetto (Bomet)
Misori’s Response to the Petition
In a separate statement following the announcement of the NGC meeting, Akelo Misori confirmed that the National Executive Board (NEB) had received the petition during a meeting the previous day.
He sought to clarify misconceptions about the petition, stating that it was received during their session as an Any Other Business (AOB) item and would be addressed in the upcoming meeting.
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Misori expressed confidence that the petition was calling for disciplinary action based on alleged misconduct, as outlined by the union’s constitution. He emphasized the importance of maintaining decorum and ensuring the petition is appropriately handled by the relevant bodies within the union.
Misori also dismissed concerns that the petition was an attempt to penalize union leaders for exercising their democratic rights. He clarified that the petition does not target officials at either the national or branch levels for expressing their views.
He further rejected the claim that 19 branch leaders were being singled out, labeling it as an exaggeration and a misrepresentation of the facts.
He criticized the small group of individuals whose conduct was highlighted in the petition, stating that their actions were unethical and did not reflect the broader membership of the National Governing Council.
Addressing the Rift Over the Strike
The KUPPET Secretary General acknowledged that the recent strike had exposed a significant divide among members regarding industrial action and negotiation strategies.
He reiterated his commitment to convening the NGC meeting, which had been delayed due to other pressing union matters.
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The agenda would focus on reviewing the National Executive Board’s (NEB) decision to call off the strike and planning future strategies.
Several branch officials have expressed their dissatisfaction with the union’s leadership for ending the strike without following proper procedures. They argued that only the NGC has the authority to make such decisions, and the correct process had been bypassed.
Tensions Rise in KUPPET Ahead of National Governing Council Meeting.
