Why Knut officials want to expel Wilson Sossion

The Office of the Kenya National Teachers Union (Knut) is heavily guarded by police officers to block officials from access.

National Executive Board members had scheduled a meeting Thursday with the intention of removing Secretary General Wilson Sossion from his post.

The executives forced their way into Knut House on Mfangano Street but were arrested by the police.

On Wednesday, Mr Sossion had moved to court and obtained an order to stop the organization's top brass meeting.

Why do the teachers want Sossion out?

Officials are not satisfied with how Mr Sossion has handled disputes with the Teacher Service Commission (TSC), their employer.


They claim he operates as a ranger alone and does not represent their interests.

The executive secretary of the Meru Knut branch, Caxton Miungi, said Sossion was no longer a teacher after he was registered by TSC.

"We will force him out of office today. He cannot continue to serve as Secretary General when the Teacher Service Commission has canceled his registration," he said on Thursday.

"We cannot let him continue to be a SG but the teachers suffer," he added.

His counterpart from South Kisii, Victor Ombasa, said Sossion had run the Knut problem without consulting with other national officials.

"Who gave him permission to close Knut's office?" he posed.

Other issues alleged by Knut officials were that Sossion was:

Prevents negotiations with TSC.
Cold relations with the government.
No respect for the minister of education since he took office.
That his call to dissolve the TSC was his own opinion and also about Knut joining the Central Organization of Trade Unions - Kenya.
Embarrassing the union at the CBC conference where Knut officials were locked up.
What did Sossion say?

Blut's secretary general blamed the TSC for the overthrow of the plot.

"I did not quit my position, those who are used to inciting teachers must know that I was chosen legally and I cannot be moved through street demonstrations," he said.