Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) top officials can serve for life after the age limit provision was made open-ended.
This marks the end of a two-year battle between national and branch officials on one hand and members on the other.
Acting Registrar of Trade Unions, Ann Kanake, agreed with the constitutional amendments after months of heightened activity and attempts to block them.
The changes have far-reaching implications, with national officials accused of ring-fencing their positions and making them a preserve of the wealthy and elderly while curtailing professional growth at branches.
Acting Kuppet Secretary-General Moses Nthurima, said in a March 14 circular that the new dispensation would take effect on January 1, 2026.
“This marks the beginning of a new era of accountability, inclusivity and gender and youth empowerment in the union,” Mr Nthurima said.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary-General Akello Misori.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
“The National Executive Board (NEB) will create opportunities for members to engage with the constitutional changes and prepare for their eventual implementation.”
The development is a blow to Kuppet Assistant Treasurer Ronald Tonui, who had been at the forefront of the opposition, with hundreds of officials and members petitioning the Registrar of Trade Unions to reject the amendments.
Union members say the minutes from the Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) held at Sosa Resort in Vihiga County on December 20, 2024 were doctored by national officials before being forwarded for registration.
Proponents of the changes say they promote “gender equity and equal opportunities without discrimination based on sex, race, tribe, age or religion”, effectively scrapping the retirement age for officials.
Among the likely key beneficiaries of the change are Kuppet Secretary-General Akello Misori, National Chairman and Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba, National Treasurer Mwethi Njenga, Woman Representative Catherine Wambilianga, Organising Secretary Paul Maingi and Mr Nthurima, some said to be well beyond the 60-year retirement age and who played a role in driving the changes.
The amendments introduce nine trustee positions, eight to be elected at the Delegates Conference, while the ninth will be occupied by founding Secretary General.
The NEB will now comprise 14 elected national officials, ensuring regional, gender, disability and Junior Secondary representation.
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers National Chairman Omboko Milemba at a past event.
Photo credit: File
The changes also create five new national positions – First, Second and Third Assistant National Gender Secretary, Assistant National Secretary Junior Secondary and Regional Councils Representative.
At the branch level, new positions are First, Second and Third Assistant Gender Secretary, and Assistant Secretary Junior Secondary.
In what has been described by opponents as discriminatory, branch officials seeking national office must resign from their current positions 31 days before elections, effectively blocking many from advancing in leadership.
The changes also stipulate that only NEB and Branch Executive Committee members can contest national elections.
Concerns have been raised over a sharp rise in the registration fees for candidates at branch and national levels, making leadership opportunities inaccessible to ordinary classroom teachers.
According to the revised fee structure, candidates for Secretary-General, National Chairman and National Treasurer will part with Sh500,000 and Sh300,000 for Deputy Secretary-General, National Vice-Chairman, National Organising Secretary, National Gender Secretary, National Secretary Secondary, National Secretary Treasury and Assistant National Treasurer.
At the branch level, candidates gunning for Executive Secretary, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Assistant Secretary, Organising Secretary, Gender Secretary, Secretary Secondary, and Secretary Tertiary positions will part with Sh50,000.
“Scrapping the age limit, raising registration fees and forcing branch officials to quit before contesting national positions is a strategy by a clique seeking to serve for life,” a branch official who did not wish to be named told the Sunday Nation.
“Dictatorship is taking root in Kuppet and the only solution is for members to revolt. This is a dark era.”
In a January 2, 2025 letter, Mr Milemba and Mr Nthurima say 425 delegates voted on the amendments, with 402 in favour.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima addressing journalists at their headquarters in Nairobi on June 12, 2024.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
“The draft constitutional amendments submitted through a notice of motion on March 13, 2023, and circulated to branches on March 17, 2023, were presented to the Delegates Conference for adoption,” Kuppet said in a letter to the registrar.
The Registrar of Trade Unions invited objections from members regarding the proposed changes two months ago.
“Any member who has objections to the amendments is required to submit them in writing within 21 days,” Ms Kanake said in a January 6, 2025, notice.
