This archive report was first published on 24 June 2021.
Kenya: Sossion's Election Power Struggle ¶
As Kenya gears up for national elections on Saturday, June 26, 2021, a power struggle within the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has reached a boiling point. Secretary General Wilson Sossion, who has been at the helm of the union for years, has found himself increasingly isolated as top officials and branch delegates prepare for the elections.
Mr. Sossion has fired a warning shot that the elections will not be held without him blowing the final whistle. He has accused the acting national chairman, Collins Oyuu, of leading members of the National Steering Committee to a meeting with Labour ministry officials to plan for the elections without his knowledge.
The secretary general claimed that the union was considering appointing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to preside over the polls. He has also accused the Labour ministry of 'dishonesty, and outright biasness in planning and supervision of the election.'
However, the Ministry of Labour has maintained that the elections will proceed as planned, with the Commissioner of Labour overseeing the process. The ministry has stated that there is no resolution from a Special NEC meeting advising them otherwise.
Mr. Oyuu has stated that the union's focus is now on the election on Saturday, which will usher in fresh leadership at the top. He has also accused Mr. Sossion of orchestrating blind fights without backing from the decision-making organs of Knut.
The change of position by the Ministry of Health followed a letter written by Knut Deputy Secretary General Hezbon Otieno highlighting measures put in place by the union to comply with Covid-19 protocols.
"The ministry is in receipt of additional information on the internal measures that the union has put in place to ensure adherence to Covid-19 guidelines and to reduce the risk of disease transmission," stated Ms. Mochache in the follow-up letter dated June 21.
Mr. Otieno informed the ministry that the union had put in place adequate containment measures, adopting a walk-in-walk-out voting process. Delegates will carry their own pens and each branch will be allocated its own voting time.
