The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General, Collins Oyuu, has asked teachers to support the Azimio La Umoja coalition, saying that teachers must be in government.
Speaking during the KNUT Annual General Meeting held on Monday, March 21, in Migori County, Oyuu noted that teachers must always work with the government of the day and that they are following in the footsteps of President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has expressed his support for Azimio.
“For us as Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), we don’t have otherwise. If we want to follow and work with the government of the day, and if the government of the day has endorsed Raila as the fifth President, whom I am I to take a different direction? I am telling you, we are in Azimio,” he stated.
Oyuu, who is a life member of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), stated that teachers cannot fight the working government and the union will always be on the side of the government.
The KNUT boss further stated that the demands of the teachers cannot be met if they were in opposition.
He added that every teacher has the right to belong to any political party or coalition, but he strongly feels that Azimio La Umoja is the best coalition for teachers.
“I’m not pushing any person into ODM, what I’m pushing is to support the government of the day, and the government of the day is Azimio,” said Oyuu.
He also noted that many teachers were not getting medical services as most of the contracted health facilities were not willing to do so based on the conditions of the teachers' contracts.
Oyuu urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to address the issues raised by teachers to ensure they get a better medical cover plan.
The endorsement of Raila Odinga is Oyuu’s first major political move since his election as KNUT Secretary General in June 2021, after the resignation of Wilson Sossion.
The decision to endorse Raila is expected to elicit mixed reactions from thousands of teachers who are members of the union.
