Tough times lie ahead for the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) as Teachers Service Commission (TSC) issues a termination notice to the union to end their relation.
TSC vs KNUT Wars
TSC and KNUT have been at war for a while but it appears the battle has intensified. The latest move by TSC being de-registration of KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion as a teacher to weaken his powers and the termination of its relation with KNUT as seen in part of the notice attached below.
KNUT has termed the notice illegal and promised to move court to challenge TSC’s decisions to end its existence.
What follows are reactions from Kenyan teachers about the termination notice.
Teachers In support of the Termination of KNUT
Peter Amunga says;
Only very ignorant Kenyans or teachers can laugh at attempts by their employer to frustrate a union they subscribe to directly or indirectly. KNUT doesn’t represent itself but members. It is members are the ones who are being denied the voice they very badly need in a time like this when teachers are being employed on contract and paid 10k a month. The employer is trying to shut down the scrutiny, accountability and checks and balances that KNUT OFFERS. Tsc has actually made all Primary school teachers who cannot be members of KUPPET… LACK A VOICE IN DETERMINING THEIR SALARIES.
All 220,000 primary school teachers made union-less just like that. This they have done through mutilation of KNUT register, pushing all high school teachers to kuppet without them sighting any form. Pushing all women teachers to Kewota without them signing any form and ignoring a court order that is in place stopping validation.
Let it be clear. It won’t be a walk in the park for TSC CEO or her commissioners. Hii ni vita. Natutapigana, angani, ardhini na majini. Watch this space.
Elijah Omogoi says;
Funny how some people reason. Your employer is fighting the very union that protects your interests and you’re goading her on to finish your union? Sad.
Osome Agulu says;
Let Sossion come to ground for recruitment. The BEC members of knut, the executives and the branch executive secretaries are not strategizing from the ground. They are watching Sossion and TSC headquarters as if they are spectators. They are foot soldiers. I suggest forms be printed and given branches. Member to fill and be carried to court. Many member members are willing but as if officials at branch level are confused. Please counter intelligently. Some members are always in politicians homes seeking favors.
Teachers against the Termination of KNUT
Samwel Sitienei says;
 Let Sossion feel the pinch also the way classroom teachers felt after signing a bogus CBA meant for administrators. Who didn’t hear him yelling at Naivasha that the signed document(CBA) was the best in south of Sahara and North of River Limpopo? The said document turned out to be the worst ever for the majority of the teaching fraternity. The most intriguing aspect about it is the glaring disparity between an institutional administrator and a senior classroom teacher i.e kshs 40,000/ difference!!!. Kumbe KNUT ilikuwa na wenyewe. This was unfair, unfortunate, unacceptable and illegal according to the labour laws. If Sossion is leaving KNUT, it’s good riddance. My take.
Wanjiru Wa Kiguru says;
 Kuppet should also be de-registered, we must start new unions from a common understanding. Coexistence must be realized through the mutual benefit from the union and it’s members. We must start this from a clean slate.
Isaac Manduku says;
You can’t change the law. The minimum number of membership is a requirement by law.
Just recruit more members. The courts cannot help you in this, instead they will only confirm, just like they confirmed Sossion’s de-registration.
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