The Kenya National Union of Teachers was once a towering advocate for educators, uniting primary and secondary teachers in a shared fight for dignity and fair pay.
However, the 1998 formation of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers fractured this unity, creating rival factions that have weakened the profession.
Compounded by the Teachers Service Commission’s divisive tactics and the unions’ political entanglements, teachers have suffered—facing stalled wages and eroded influence.
This critique traces Knut’s decline, Kuppet’s role and TSC’s instigation, arguing for reunification under Knut, inclusive of the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers, driven by a nationwide survey of teachers.
THE 1997 STRIKE
KNUT’s strength shone in 1997, when deputy secretary-general Francis Ng’ang’a, alongside chairman John Katumanga and secretary-general Ambrose Adongo, led a historic strike.
Protesting the Kanu government’s failure to implement a 200 per cent pay hike, the strike, timed during an election year, forced concessions.
The government agreed to phase the increase over 10 years, a testament to Knut’s unity across its primary and secondary teacher members.
Ng’ang’a’s legacy, as substantive secretary general from 2001 to 2008, extended to the 2010 Constitution, where he secured the TSC’s constitutional protection, safeguarding teachers’ rights.
Knut’s broad mandate, per Article 111 of its constitution, made it a powerful voice for all educators.
THE 1998 FRACTURE
Kuppet’s emergence in 1998 splintered the unity of Knut. Limited by Article 7 of its constitution to secondary and tertiary teachers, as noted in a 2013 advisory by registrar William Langat, the union aimed to address post-primary educators’ concerns.
Yet, rather than forming caucuses within Knut, the split fostered rivalry, creating an artificial hierarchy. This division weakened collective bargaining, as the TSC exploited tensions to delay CBAs, leaving teachers’ demands—rooted in the unfulfilled 1997 agreement— unmet.
POLITICAL MISSTEPS
Knut’s decline deepened under Wilson Sossion, secretary-general until 2021. His 2017 nomination as an ODM MP overexposed Knut to political attacks.
Rather than suggesting a proxy to represent Knut’s interests, Sossion’s dual role invited conflict with the TSC, which deregistered him, and drew ruling party ire. His tenure, marked by internal purges like the forced retirement of Knut officials (chairman Mudzo Nzili and vice-chairman Samson Kaguma), yielded no collective gains, illustrating how political alignments benefit individuals over teachers.
His successor, Secretary-General Collins Oyuu’s collaborative stance with the government similarly faltered, signalling weakness.
TSC’S DIVISIVE ROLE
The TSC has fuelled the Knut, Kuppet rift, acting as a government proxy. A 2024 dispute, reported extensively by The Standard, saw the TSC plan to transfer 40,000 junior secondary school teachers to Kuppet.
Knut, claiming JSS teachers belong in primary schools, accused the TSC of favouritism, while Kuppet insisted they are secondary educators. This clash, rooted in ambiguous policy, underscores TSC’s bias—evident in its leniency toward Kuppet’s MP chairman, Omboko Milemba, contrasted with Sossion’s deregistration.
Such tactics fragment teachers’ unity, undermining their bargaining power. Since 1998, the Knut-Kuppet divide has left teachers vulnerable, their role as societal shapers diminished. Reunification under Knut, leveraging its inclusive mandate, is the solution.
POSSIBLE MERGER
A merger, including Kusnet, with equitable executive council representation, would balance primary, secondary and special needs educators’ needs. To ensure this reflects teachers’ will, a survey of Kenya’s 345,290 educators is critical.
Questions like “Do you support a Knut-Kuppet merger?” and “What ensures fair representation?” would guide negotiations, countering leadership rivalries and mistrust.
A neutral mediator could facilitate a joint task force to draft a unified constitution, barring leaders from political office to avoid future overexposure.
CONCLUSION
Knut’s 1997 triumph and Ng’ang’a’s constitutional victories show the power of unity. Kuppet’s split and TSC’s tactics have fractured this legacy, leaving teachers divided.
A teacher-led survey can spark reunification, restoring Knut as the voice of all educators. Only together can teachers reclaim their destiny as Kenya’s shapers, their collective strength unyielding.
Social consciousness theorist, corporate trainer and speaker, X (Twitter): @samaismela or [email protected]
