Divisions have emerged in the leadership ranks/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 13 – The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) will on Wednesday hold its 60th annual delegates conference in Mombasa, amid leadership wrangles that are threatening to divide the giant union.
During the three day meeting, outgoing chairman Mudzo Nzili and his deputy Samson Kaguma are expected to give their farewell message to teachers after they were sent on leave pending retirement.
Controversy surrounded the retirement of Nzili after he demanded Secretary General Wilson Sossion’s resignation.
Sossion instead issued a directive for the National Chairman to take a six-month terminal leave pending his retirement in May next year.
The union however, later resolved that Nzili should proceed on terminal leave immediately pending his retirement in April next year.
Nzili stated that the contentious issue of retirement and when to hold elections had been dealt with conclusively.
The Labour Ministry had initially warned KNUT against holding by-elections to replace Nzili, saying he has not attained the retirement age.
A statement from the ministry pointed out that it would be unlawful to proceed with the planned by-elections scheduled for December 14 since no positions are vacant.
The statement said that the ministry has received letters of objection from Nzili, and the 1st Vice Chairman Samson Kaguma who both stated that they have not attained the mandatory retirement age.
Sossion indciated that there was no bad blood between him and the National Chairman saying that the matter was being blown out of proportion and that the union was following procedure as set out in its constitution.
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