This archive report was first published on 13 September 2019.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) officials are facing financial difficulties due to a court order reinstating Secretary-General Wilson Sossion, which has led banks to reject the signatures of new officials.
On September 13, 2019, Knut National Treasurer John Matiang'i informed teachers that the union's accounts at KCB Bank and other banks have restraining court orders served by Mr Sossion, preventing any transactions.
Mr Matiang'i explained that the union's accounts had been changed on August 29 to accommodate the signature of Deputy Secretary General Hesbon Otieno, but the court order has rendered these changes ineffective.
As a result, the union has been unable to withdraw cash from banks or transact any other businesses, causing financial hardship for staff with bank and Sacco loans, unpaid school fees, and rent arrears.
Mr Matiang'i stated, 'As your national treasurer, I understand the predicaments and agony we are all going through financially. It's now getting to three months and all of us have not been paid [together] with our staff.'
The union receives Sh140 million monthly as union dues, which is used to pay salaries for staff in its 110 branches across the country.
Meanwhile, Mr Sossion has written to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) protesting against scheduled meetings with the union's officials in his absence, citing the need to follow laid-down procedure for sound and legal industrial relations.
