Clash looms as Wilson Sossion vows to report to work
Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Wilson Sossion addresses a news conference at their head office in Nairobi on April 26, 2018. He has vowed to report to his office on Monday. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
On Saturday, a section of the union’s National Executive Council members ousted Mr Sossion and swore in his deputy, Mr Hesbon Otieno, as the acting secretary-general.
In Kericho, Knut officials drawn from Buret, Sotik, Kericho, Kipkelion, Nakuru, Trans-Mara, Narok and Bomet told Mr Sossion to resist any move to remove him.
In Embu, teachers supported Mr Sossion’s removal and told him to respect the NEC decision.
A showdown looms on Monday at the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) headquarters in Nairobi after ousted secretary-general Wilson Sossion vowed to go to his office despite his removal by some officials.
“I will be in the office on Monday. Let anyone attempt to unconstitutionally throw me out of that office, there will be a showdown. I am legally in office. Let them honour the court order that restored me after the unjustified coup,” Mr Sossion said.
The ODM Nominated MP was addressing some 100 Knut officials from eight branches in the South Rift at Isaiyana Holiday Resort in Bureti, Kericho County.
Knut delegates from Bungoma, Busia, Vihiga and Kakamega counties show solidarity with ousted union boss Wilson Sossion in Kakamega Town yesterday. PHOTO | ISAAC WALE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
On Saturday, a section of the union’s National Executive Council members ousted Mr Sossion and swore in his deputy, Mr Hesbon Otieno, as the acting secretary-general.
In Kericho, Knut officials drawn from Buret, Sotik, Kericho, Kipkelion, Nakuru, Trans-Mara, Narok and Bomet told Mr Sossion to resist any move to remove him unconstitutionally.
ANNUAL DELEGATES CONFERENCE
They further warned those behind the plan to oust him to stop it before the Annual Delegates Conference in June, or be voted out come that day.
“Let those behind Sossion’s ouster remain assured that they, too, will be shown the door during the next Annual Delegates Conference,” Kipkelion branch secretary David Bore warned.
Outgoing Buret branch secretary Daniel Chumo called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and other government organs to respect the court order that restrained them from sending Mr Sossion home until the pending case is determined.
In Embu, teachers supported Mr Sossion’s removal and told him to respect the NEC decision. Embu Knut executive secretary Josephat Kathumi said Mr Sossion could still serve teachers and other workers in Parliament even if he was not their spokesman.
VERDICT
He said Mr Sossion’s dismissal of the NEC’s decision was in bad taste and portrayed him as a person who does not respect institutions.
Mr Kathumi told him not to drag the government, the TSC and the Ministry of Education into the row.
“If that’s the verdict of the NEC, and we must respect it. Knut’s constitution dictates that we respect the NEC verdict because teachers have given it the mandate to suspend any official.”
“Mr Sossion still has a chance to argue his case during the National Delegates’ Conference slated for December,” the official added.
He spoke at Iveche Primary School during a party for students who won awards in the national drama festivals.
