Knut differences resolved, says Sossion
Turmoil recently witnessed in Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has ended, Secretary General, Wilson Sossion declared yesterday.
“I wish to report that we are at peace with ourselves and walking together now and more seriously than ever before,” Sossion said of the truce brokered by Central Organisation of Trade Unions-Kenya (Cotu-K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli.
Atwoli said he came in to bring peace between rival groups in Knut, adding that it has come a long way as a trade union and should not be brought down.
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“An injury to one is an injury to all, Knut has been having misunderstandings and I have come in with a conciliatory role. They have not been forced by anyone or external forces to come together, they have decided to work as a team,” Atwoli said after meeting Knut officials.
Present during the meeting were Sossion, National Vice chairman Collins Oyuu, Deputy Secretary General Hesbon Otieno, National Treasurer John Matiang’i among other Knut officials.
Internal problems
Although the National chairman Wycliffe Omucheyi was not present, the officials insisted all was well and that they support the way forward. “It is common knowledge that Knut has been experiencing internal problems, differences are bound to be see in every family but what matters is how fast you come out to make peace. We are reconciling to serve teachers,” said Oyuu.
Sossion said the turmoil in the union had been instigated externally but they have resolved it as Knut, even as he stated that the buck stops with Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Ministry of Education to now deal with teachers’ issues professionally and in accordance with the law.
He told the ministry that Knut will support all programmes but that does not mean they will not give their views where necessary.
Cash strapped
As they came together, Sossion said they arrived at a number of resolutions including to postpone the Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) scheduled for December.
Part of the reason for the postponement was the fact that all branches are cash strapped for lack of three-month remittances by TSC.
Similarly, the officials agreed that any disputes that existed within them are now ‘over, buried and forgotten’ and if there were any court cases, all are to be withdrawn so that there is peace to allow them continue working for teachers.
