Wilson Sossion threatens fresh court action

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion has threatened to return to court if his deputy, and alleged successor, fails to comply with court orders.

Through lawyer Jackson Awele Onyango, Mr Sossion said that Mr Hesbon Otieno has continued to hold himself as the Knut secretary-general despite a court order issued last week, stopping anybody from taking over his office.

“It has come to our client’s attention that you have, in blatant disregard of the court order, continued holding out as the Knut secretary-general. Take notice that unless you stop, we have instructions to commence contempt of court orders against you personally,” said lawyer Onyango in the letter addressed to Mr Otieno.

SET AGENDA

On April 30, during a special National Executive Council (NEC) meeting convened by Mr Sossion to discuss set agenda whose notice had previously been given, a faction of members introduced and passed a motion to suspend Mr Sossion as the Knut secretary-general.

On the same day, a subsequent meeting of a special National Advisory Council (NAC) nullified the decision by NEC. However, despite the NAC decision, Mr Otieno has continued to hold himself as the Knut secretary-general, prompting Mr Sossion to go to court and obtain temporary orders pending the hearing on May 10.

Meanwhile, a group of teachers from the North Rift on Tuesday came to the defence of Mr Sossion against calls for him to step down.

The teachers, drawn from 20 Knut branches, termed Mr Sossion’s ouster illegal, saying that they will solidly remain behind his leadership.

STAKEHOLDERS

Speaking in Eldoret town, the officials downplayed the move to suspend Mr Sossion. “A few individuals cannot make decisions unilaterally without involving all the stakeholders in the union and assume their views are binding. As North Rift branch advisory council, we remain behind Mr Sossion,” said Knut Wareng branch executive secretary John Bor.

Separately, Knut executive secretaries from Nyanza region criticised the act of ousting Mr Sossion.

Led by Nyanza region chairman Gilbert Nduru during a meeting with all 21 secretaries in Kisii, they said they still recognised Mr Sossion as their leader.

DELOCALISATION

“We recognise Mr Sossion as our secretary-general and also as a nominated MP,” said Mr Nicholas Nyang’au, the regional secretary.

Mr Nyang’au said Mr Sossion should be given time to address issues which are affecting teachers such as promotions and delocalisation.

However, in Embu, teachers supported Mr Sossion’s removal and told him to respect the NEC’s 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.