Teachers’ Petition Against KNUT’s Unconstitutional Amendments and Officials’ Suspension
Teachers’ Petition Against KNUT’s Unconstitutional Amendments and Officials’ Suspension. Teachers from the Rongo chapter of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) in Migori County have immediately petitioned the Senate to convey their significant concerns regarding the leadership and governance of the KNUT.
The petition highlights a number of issues that are detrimental to the teacher’s union, including the allegedly arbitrary revision to the KNUT constitution, the suspension of officials from various branches, and other issues.
The petitioner, Mr. Nixon Odhiambo Ngutu, brings up significant points in a letter dated August 16, 2023 to the Clerk of the Senate that have teachers and citizens alike expressing considerable concern. The following topics are given particular attention in the petition:
The petition claims that KNUT has been operating under a constitution that its members have not properly changed. The legitimacy of the union’s decisions and actions are consequently questioned.
Composition of Teacher Representatives: The petitioner points out what he claims is a discrepancy in the way teachers are represented in the national office and chapters of KNUT. According to the claim, the majority of these representatives are retired educators, which conflicts with the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) definition of a “active teacher.”
Deregistration of Retired Teachers: The petitioner asserts that KNUT violated TSC regulations while removing retired teachers from the payroll, which would have led to financial irregularities.
Unfair Election Criteria: The petitioner claims that it is unjust to require teachers seeking for national office positions to be among the top four branch members.
Resolutions from Meetings Vary: The petitioner claims that the minutes and resolutions that have been submitted to the society’s registrar do not appropriately reflect the decisions reached by KNUT delegates.
Transparency Regarding Retirement Ages: The petitioner requests disclosure of KNUT officials’ retirement ages, particularly for those who fall under the protection of Secretary General Collins Henry Oyuu.
Teachers’ Petition Against KNUT’s Unconstitutional Amendments and Officials’ Suspension
By pointing to a clause in the constitution that says age shouldn’t be a consideration in determining whether an elected official serves a full term, concerns about age-related restrictions are allayed.
Branch Merger: The petitioner objects to the merging of branches, claiming that doing so goes against the devolutionary and equitable service delivery principles.
Giving Funds: The petitioner questions the rationale for distributing funds to branches and suggests that, rather than a system based solely on numerical strength, decision-making should be left up to the National Executive Council (NEC).
The petitioner stresses that the KNUT union’s primary purpose is to represent active teachers, not retired ones, and demands that this fundamental principle be upheld.
Allegations of Economic Mismanagement: The petitioner accuses Secretary General Collins Henry Oyuu of Economic Mismanagement, citing discrepancies between KNUT records and TSC data on retiring officials.
Personal Influence in Branch Activities: According to the petition, Mr. Oyuu has been allegedly utilizing his personal contacts to influence branch activities. Examples cited in support of this claim include the selective replacement of officials.
Official Disqualification: The petitioner wonders if it was permissible for some officials to be elected after they had reached the required retirement age, arguing this may have violated the letter of the law.
The petitioner requests the Senate to intervene and solve the management issues at KNUT, claiming that both teacher welfare and the rule of law are at jeopardy.
The allegations in the petition made it very evident that openness, accountability, and adherence to predetermined norms and regulations were necessary for the operation of a vital organization that defends the interests of teachers across the nation of Kenya.