‘I will not quit!’ Sossion rubbishes calls to resign as KNUT boss

Embattled Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Wilson Sossion has ruled out resigning from the union over the ongoing row with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Sossion accused TSC of meddling in KNUT’s affairs through “lies, propaganda and cheap campaigns.”

He further insinuated of an alleged plot by the teachers’ employer to appoint his replacement to KNUT, adding that he will only step aside as Secretary General of the union if voted out by delegates.

“I’m not quitting…I’m not quitting…and I cannot be removed, forget about it, no matter how much money they use, I am not on trial. I will only go home if the delegates say so,” said the vocal KNUT boss.

“Once more we urge TSC to obey the law…You’ll never select the KNUT SG, it will never happen. KNUT remains the union of choice for teachers in the country. All the propaganda and lies out there are cheap campaigns.”

TSC and KNUT are embroiled in a fierce tussle over, among other issues, teacher transfers and promotions as well as failure by the teachers’ employer to remit the union dues collected from salaries of KNUT members.

The frosty relations between the two entities has seen TSC fail to remit commission to KNUT for two months now.

The Wilson Sossion-led union has since moved to court seeking to have TSC cited for contempt of court.

Through lawyer Hillary Sigei, KNUT said the list of union officials whose transfer had been set aside by the court have not been rerouted or retransferred to be within their geographical limits of representation as per the court order.

KNUT further argued that the orders have not been set aside or varied by any competent court and in force.

The commission hence wants the court to intervene and punish TSC for not obeying the said orders.

Lawyer Paul Muite, also representing KNUT, submitted that TSC’s intention is to kill the union, adding that the commission has gone rogue by refusing to deduct union dues for two months.

On July 27, 2019, the Employment and Labour Relations Court ruled that Sossion should be struck off the teachers register, following a case filed by TSC.

TSC had moved to court in 2017 to have him deregistered and on January 17, 2018, the court obliged.

According to TSC, Sossion should have resigned or retired from his teaching position in compliance with the regulations of 187 of the code but failed to do so.