Give up one post, Knut tells Sossion

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) on Wednesday told Secretary-General Wilson Sossion to choose between serving teachers and being a Member of Parliament.

The ultimatum came after a day-long meeting of the union’s top decision-making organ, the National Executive Council (NEC).

“We have agreed that he has to choose which position he wants, and he has indicated that he prefers to remain in Knut.

"We have given him a little time to decide, and the report will be tabled at the next NEC meeting for discussion,” a council member said.

But when contacted via phone, Mr Sossion said “NEC agreed that I remain SG of the union.”

RESIGN
He said the issues critical to teachers are performance appraisal, promotion and withdrawal of the delocalisation policy.

“We have agreed that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) stops the delocalisation and appraisal until further discussions,” Mr Sossion said.

Earlier, a group of teachers from Kiambu and parts of Nairobi had camped at Knut’s headquarters on Mfangano Street demanding Mr Sossion’s resignation.

Led by Kiambu Knut chairman Joram Njoroge, the teachers said they wanted Sossion replaced by Deputy Secretary-General Hesbon Otieno.

“If Mr Sossion does not leave office, we, as members, have powers to direct the Teachers Service Commission to sack him,” he said.

SACKED
Last year, the TSC deregistered Mr Sossion as a teacher after he was nominated to Parliament by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

READ: Why TSC has sacked Sossion

He was among 11 trade unionists whom former Labour Cabinet Secretary asked to leave office after they joined politics.

Mr Sossion has challenged the sack in court.