What was meant to be a routine democratic exercise descended into chaos on Sunday after a group of rogue teachers disrupted the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) elections in Homa Bay, bringing the process to an abrupt end.
Trouble started when rowdy teachers forcefully seized ballot materials from the polling venue and set some of the ballot papers on fire, effectively derailing the vote and leading to premature termination of the exercise with no winners declared.
Not even the presence of Kuppet Secretary-General Akelo Misori at Tom Mboya University where the voting was taking place could calm the situation. Instead, tensions escalated.
Teachers in Homa Bay had gathered to elect branch officials who would serve a five-year term. Union leadership positions are highly coveted, offering office holders a platform to advocate for better salaries, improved medical cover and other benefits on behalf of teachers.
The roles also come with privileges such as allowances for official meetings, alongside continued salaries from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Holding union office is therefore a high-stakes contest, and for some aspirants, the desire to win appeared to eclipse the spirit of fair competition.
Unlike in other regions, the Homa Bay poll took place amid infighting and deep suspicion. Hundreds of teachers, including junior secondary school interns, arrived at Tom Mboya University as early as 6 am, many travelling in school buses or personal vehicles, hopeful of participating in a process they believed would shape their professional futures. Instead, they were met with confusion, tension and eventual disappointment.
The atmosphere within the institution grew increasingly charged until a group of teachers, allegedly aided by hired goons, forcibly removed ballot materials and destroyed them. At several points, rival factions clashed physically as opposing groups confronted each other.
Bloodstains spotted at the entrance of the voting hall bore silent witness to the violence, suggesting that at least one person was injured during the confrontations.
Mr Ben Obop, a candidate for the position of branch chairperson, said there were early signs that the election was headed for chaos.
“An election is a process, and certain steps must be undertaken well before polling day,” he said.
Mr Obop claimed that the voter register was presented only a day before the election, a move he described as a deliberate tactic to manipulate the outcome.
“That document should have been availed much earlier to allow teachers to verify their details,” he said, adding that the register ought to have been printed and distributed across the county at least two months before the poll.
He further criticised the absence of officials from the Ministry of Labour, whom he said were expected to supervise the exercise.
“We expected officials from the Ministry of Labour to oversee the process. They did not show up,” Mr Obop said, describing the omission as an act of sabotage.
He alleged that some union members may have colluded with labour ministry officials to undermine the election.
In several instances, voting was temporarily suspended in an attempt to calm tensions, but these pauses only fuelled suspicion among teachers, some of whom believed the interruptions were a strategy to manipulate votes.
At times, teachers forced their way into the voting hall, overwhelming security officers who struggled to control the crowd and restrict access.
Mr Obop said he expects Kuppet to organise a fresh election, noting that candidates had invested heavily in their campaigns, with some taking loans to finance their bids.
“Female teachers could not withstand the commotion and were forced to leave when the process collapsed. Teachers should not give up. They should be ready to participate in another poll,” he urged.
Mr Collins Ouma, who is contesting the position of organising secretary, said the situation degenerated into confusion, prompting teachers and their observers to attempt negotiations on how the exercise could proceed peacefully.
“Unfortunately, rival teams could not agree on a way forward. We are requesting the branch and the national governing council to convene a meeting with candidates so that we can discuss how to conduct a fresh election,” he appealed.
Ms Angela Okoth, who vied for the gender secretary position, alleged that there were serious violations of electoral procedures, including instances of multiple voting.
She explained that before voting, teachers had their personal details verified at the main gate, where they were required to prove their employment by the TSC through an electronic system on their mobile phones. They then proceeded to a manual register where their names were checked and marked before ink was applied between their fingers.
However, Ms Okoth claimed that some teachers washed off the ink after voting and returned to the queue, bypassing the manual register to vote again.
“The ink was not indelible and could be washed off easily. When we raised complaints about this, it triggered mayhem,” she said.
She added that teachers were incited against one another, making it difficult for police officers assigned to maintain order to control the situation as teachers pushed and pulled each other.
Ms Okoth called for free and fair elections, stressing the need for outcomes that all teachers can accept.
She also urged closer collaboration between the labour office and the Kuppet national election board to prevent a repeat of the chaos.
Incumbent executive secretary Stephen Yogo said his office had not received any official communication regarding plans for a fresh election. He accused his opponents of using youths to incite violence.
Earlier, Mr Misori had appealed to teachers to conduct themselves peacefully during the exercise. He noted that Kuppet had successfully conducted elections in Migori, Machakos, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu and Kiambu.
“Most employers treat their employees as slaves. Having focused and principled union representatives ensures that the interests of all workers are protected,” Mr Misori said.
