This archive report was first published on 26 June 2021.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion has resigned, effective immediately, ahead of the union's national elections.
On Friday, 25th June, Sossion announced his decision to step down, stating that he now wanted to focus on his political career.
Addressing the media at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club, off Kiambu Road in Nairobi, Sossion said, "I bow out of Knut as the secretary-general. I shall remain loyal to Knut and will always be available to advise and support the new leadership of the union," he said.
As he exits, Sossion appealed to the government to support teachers, stating, "I hope the government will support teachers. I am making this appeal. I trust that the government will find it necessary to allow the union's money to flow in from the teachers," he added.
Sossion, a vocal Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) nominated MP, has been at the helm of the powerful teachers union for the last eight years, taking over as Knut Secretary-General in 2013.
His resignation comes amid sharp disagreements with fellow union officials and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), which de-registered him as a teacher in May 2021.
He had alleged that the TSC, Knut, and the Kenya Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) were planning to rig him out of office.
