Members of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in the North Rift have raised concerns over recent changes to the union’s constitution. Spearheaded by Joyce Koech, the members criticized the amendments as unconstitutional and lacking the necessary consultations.
Speaking in Kapsabet town, Koech accused top union officials of plotting to extend their tenure in office through questionable means. “The changes are unacceptable. How can a few people meet and implement such changes without consultations? This is totally unacceptable,” she stated emphatically. Koech warned that the move could drive members out of the union and hinted at legal action to halt the changes.
The contentious amendments were announced during the Annual Delegated Conference in Vihiga. Among the key adjustments was the removal of the age limit for national office holders a change that critics argue benefits a select few rather than the union’s broader membership.
Koech further asserted that reforms within KUPPET should focus on enhancing member welfare and governance. She emphasized that leadership opportunities should be open to younger members and those eligible for retirement should step aside. “Any change must focus on benefitting members and improving the union. The recently announced changes are, however, targeted to benefit a few officials. We have many able members who can lead the union,” she added.
Another vocal critic, Daisy Kirui, echoed these sentiments, urging the leadership to shelve the proposed changes. She argued that grassroots-level elections are essential to ensure transparency and inclusivity. “These changes have no room and must be shelved. For elections to be free and transparent and for all members to participate, they must be held at the grassroots level and not national level,” Kirui remarked.
Members also criticized a new requirement for prospective members to pay KSh 200,000, describing it as punitive and exclusionary.
The discontent highlights growing frustrations among KUPPET members who feel marginalized in union decision-making processes. As tensions simmer, the union faces mounting pressure to prioritize inclusivity and democratic practices to avoid further alienation of its membership.
