KNUT Boss Wilson Sossion Changes Tune After TSC Fallout

KNUT Secretary-General Wilson Sossion addresses journalists in Nairobi on May, 16 2019
KNUT Secretary-General Wilson Sossion addresses journalists in Nairobi on May, 16 2019
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Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion has changed tune on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) following constant tussles with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Speaking in Baringo County during the union's branch elections, Sossion noted that teachers would not back the BBI if TSC continued to fight the union.

The union boss has been singing praise to BBI, but this seems to be changing with KNUT embroiled in a tussle with Nancy Macharia led TSC.

File image of KNUT Secretary-General Wilson Sossion (centre)
KNUT Secretary-General Wilson Sossion (centre) addresses the press in 2018
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Sossion added that KNUT would resist all attempts from the commission aimed at paralyzing the union.

Reports indicate that the giant union has been reduced to a shell due to mass exit of teachers. The union went from a high membership of 187,000 to a mere 23,000.

Furthermore, the union's income has dwindled, from Ksh 144 million to ksh 15 million, against a salary portfolio of ksh 80 million for over 600 workers spread across the country.

Despite these hurdles, Sossion affirmed that the union is finding new ways to have teachers make their monthly contribution in order to stay afloat. He pointed out that the intimidation tactics would not work.

"When you intimidate teachers, will they perform well?

"Even this thing called Competency based Curriculum (CBC), are teachers really understanding and delivering as it should be?" posed Sossion.

A recent report indicated that over 32,000 teachers had bagged promotions following their exit from the union.

The tutors accepted the Career Progression Guidelines (CPGs) that has for a while been opposed by the teachers union.

TSC and KNUT have, over the recent months, been entangled in a tussle over various issues affecting the education sector.

These matters range from Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA), disbursement of funds as well as promotion of teachers.

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Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia addresses the media in January 2020 in Nairobi
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