Top officials of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) have commenced re-election campaigns, rallying branch delegates from across the country to back them.
This comes as at least 40 branch executive secretaries lost their positions in both unions during grassroots elections involving at least 435,000 teachers, which concluded last week.
The change of guard in the branches, at least 23 new in Kuppet and 17 in Knut, signals a push by delegates for leadership changes in the teachers’ unions, with national elections set to be concluded in the next three weeks.
Both Kuppet and Knut’s new constitutions require branch officials to resign from their positions before seeking national offices, a move said to have been designed by those in office to ring-fence their positions and stem opposition from otherwise popular leaders.
The move has sparked debate, as critics argue it does not promote progression from branch to national leadership and carries high risks, since one may lose their branch position if unsuccessful in seeking a national seat.
Knut will hold its Special Delegates Conference at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu on April 3, while Kuppet will conduct its own on April 18 at Kasarani Gymnasium in Nairobi. Both events will culminate in the election of new office bearers for another five-year term.
Former nominated MP Wilson Sossion seeks to return as Knut secretary-general, while former Bomet East MP Ronald Tonui eyes the same post in Kuppet.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
In Knut, Secretary-General Collins Oyuu is set to face off with former Member of Parliament Wilson Sossion, who quit the union on June 21, 2021.
Mr Sossion has declared an interest in reclaiming his former position and recently wrote to Knut demanding to be furnished with the election date and venue.
In a developing realignment, Knut Assistant Secretary-General Rosalia Mukanjala appears to have been sidelined by delegates and fellow national officials in the run-up to the election.
Mr Lennox Mwakio Mshila, the Taita Taveta branch executive secretary, has been fronted to replace Ms Mukanjala and, together with Mr Oyuu’s team, has received backing from branches in five regions (formerly provinces) as of Saturday.
Ms Mukanjala has claimed she is being pushed out by senior union officials uncomfortable with her demands for accountability and for payment of dues owed to her by the union.
“The main reason I am being fought is because of my demand that I be paid my dues, which have been pending for a few years now, and my push for the running of the union in a consultative manner,” Ms Mukanjala said in Nakuru during a consultative meeting with regional delegates attended by national officials.
Mr Oyuu, however, denied the claims, saying union affairs are conducted transparently and that delegates are free to elect leaders of their choice without coercion.
Mr Oyuu is leading a re-election bid alongside Mr Hezbon Otieno (Deputy Secretary-General), Mr Patrick Munuhe Karinga (National Chairman), Mr Malel Langat (First National Vice-Chairman) and Mr Aggrey Namisi (Second National Vice-Chairman).
National Treasurer James Ndiku, Deputy National Treasurer Kennedy Ondieki Nyamwanda, Assistant National Treasurer Kullow Sheikh Mohamed, Woman Representative Mercy Kiambati, Second National Woman Representative Mercy Muthoni Ndung’u, and trustees Boniface Tenai and Dan Aloo are also defending their positions.
So far, Mr Oyuu’s team has met delegates in Eastern, Nairobi, Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza regions, with the Coastal region scheduled for next week.
Nomination of candidates will be conducted on March 2, a day before the elections.
“All branches are directed to prepare and appoint delegates to the Special Delegates Conference through properly constituted Branch Executive Committees (BECs), meeting as provided in the Knut constitution. The delegates’ allocation shall be communicated to you,” Mr Oyuu stated in a circular dated March 13, 2026.
The Kuppet election has generated significant heat, with junior school teachers credited with voting out nearly half of the branch officials across the 47 counties.
A majority of junior school teachers are Kuppet members, with some in Knut, even as debate continues on whether they should be administratively placed in primary or secondary schools.
Mr Ronald Tonui, the former Bomet Central MP who was previously removed from the assistant national treasurer position, has returned to union politics seeking to unseat Mr Misori in the top seat, amid debates over age limits for candidates.
Mr Omboko Milemba, the national chairman and Emuhaya MP, and Mr Tonui were the only Kuppet top officials in the last Parliament.
Mr Tonui voluntarily quit parliamentary politics ahead of the last General Election after serving two terms, but was not reinstated despite court orders directing that he resume his duties.
However, the Kuppet constitution does not bar him from contesting any national position in the upcoming election.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Secretary General Akello Misori (centre) addresses the media flanked by union officials after a consultative meeting at Sports View, Kasarani, Nairobi, on March 3, 2026, where they outlined resolutions on teachers’ welfare, CBA implementation, promotions, deployment and education funding, and called for urgent government engagement.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation
Among those defending their positions in Kuppet are Secretary-General Akello Misori, National Chairman Omboko Milemba, National Treasurer Mwethi Njenga, Woman Representative Catherine Wambilianga, Organising Secretary Paul Maingi, Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima, Vice-Chairman Julius Korir, Secretary for Tertiary Institutions Sammy Chelanga and Secretary for Secondary Schools Edward Obwocha, among others.
“The branch elections were democratic, free and fair. Union members picked their preferred leaders without undue interference, and the same will apply in the national elections,” said Mr Milemba.
Kuppet recently amended its constitution to allow officials to serve up to 65 years, up from 60, while requiring branch officials to resign before contesting national positions.
“To buttress gender equity and equal opportunities without any form of discrimination on the basis of, inter alia, sex, race, tribe, age or religion,” the constitutional amendment on the age limit states.
The new Kuppet National Executive Board (NEB) will comprise 14 elected national officials, reflecting regional balance, gender equity, representation of persons with disabilities and junior secondary interests.
Under revised nomination fees, candidates for Secretary-General, National Chairman and National Treasurer will pay Sh500,000, while those seeking positions such as Deputy Secretary-General, National Vice-Chairman, National Organising Secretary, National Gender Secretary, National Secretary for Secondary, National Secretary for Treasury and Assistant National Treasurer will pay Sh300,000.
Branch-level candidates paid Sh50, 000 to contest positions such as executive secretary, chairman, vice-chairman, assistant secretary, organising secretary, gender secretary and secretaries for secondary and tertiary levels.
Top union positions remain highly sought after due to their influence in the education sector, with office holders tasked with negotiating better terms of service for teachers, including salary increments.
