This archive report was first published on 26 June 2021.
On Saturday, June 26, 2021, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) held elections at the Ruaraka Sports Club in Nairobi, marking a significant change in leadership.
Collins Oyuu was elected as the new secretary general, with Hesbon Otieno as his deputy. The duo was elected unopposed, with Oyuu becoming the seventh secretary general to take office.
Wilson Sossion, the outgoing secretary general, had stepped down on Friday, June 25, 2021, paving the way for Oyuu's ascension to the top position.
"This is a day teachers have really looked out for, to have a total change in the leadership of this great union, especially at the top and I want to say specifically in the position of secretary-general," Oyuu stated.
Other leaders elected unopposed include Patrick Kariga (national chairman), James Ndiku (national treasurer), and Hussein Ali Abdi (deputy national treasurer). Stanley Mutai beat Dan Aloo as the first vice-chairman.
A total of 1,878 delegates from eight regions across the country voted in person.
Oyuu disclosed that the union was crippled financially, with many branch offices closed and secretaries unpaid for close to two years.
"Branch secretaries across the 110 offices have not been earning salaries for close to two years," he stated.
The newly elected secretary general vowed to work with both the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the government to address the financial crisis.
