Wilson Sossion Tells Collins Oyuu to Prepare to Hand Over KNUT Leadership: “I Am Like Moses”

• The former secretary general of the Kenya Teachers’ Association, Wilson Sossion, has announced his intention to return the party’s top seat
• Sossion said his return is motivated by the increasing challenges facing teachers, and framed his return as an effort to restore the party’s strength.
• He directly challenged the KNUT boss, Collins Oyuu, to the democratic contest while questioning his age eligibility.

Former Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Teachers (KNUT) Wilson Sossion has announced his intention to take over leadership again.

The declaration of the former appointed member of parliament lays the groundwork for a great leadership competition with the current boss of KNUTCollins Oyuu.

Sossion, who led the KNUT from December 2013 to June 2021, described his comeback as a mission to restore the union’s strength and refocus its agenda on teachers’ welfare.

Is Sossion returning to the helm of KNUT?

During an interview on Radio Generation on Tuesday, March 24, Sossion said his decision to return to the race was based on what he described as the increasing challenges facing teachers across the country.

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In his statement, Sossion directly opposed Oyuu, urging him to prepare for a democratic contest while also questioning his eligibility to continue holding office due to his age.

He claimed that leadership positions within the union should be reserved for individuals who are still actively involved in the teaching profession.

Comparing it to the Bible, Sossion compared his political return to the story of Moses, portraying himself as a leader who responds to the problems of his people.

“I think I am like Moses, who was tending Jethro’s goats in the desert. I have heard the cry of my teachers in Egypt and I will return. Moses was never prevented from going to Egypt. He went to Egypt and brought the children of Israel out of Egypt,” Sossion said.

He continued to call for compliance with the retirement rules within the party, saying that people who are past retirement age should resign to allow junior teachers to take leadership positions.

“I deserve it and Oyuu should organize a democratic process and accept my name and he is on the ballot or otherwise cause retirement. Once you are past retirement age, leave the party. We have a bad culture in the country that retirees are in charge of the party. And that is not right. They cannot speak on behalf of their grandchildren,” he said.

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Why is Sossion pushing for retirement age limits in KNUT?

Sossion stressed that the leadership must show the reality of those who are still in active service, stressing that the teachers in the classrooms are now in the best position to explain and defend the interests of the profession.

“You know when you are in the teaching staff and the teachers in the teaching staff are your sons or your grandchildren, can you talk about them? That is a bad culture. So Oyuu and anyone else who is over 60 years old should pack their bags and go home. They should not even be on the ballot. And I want to face a teacher who is under 60 years old on the ballot for the position of Secretary General,” Sossion added.

At the same time, he acknowledged his openness to a generational change within the main teachers’ union, saying he would be willing to resign if a younger candidate came forward to run for the position.

“Actually, by the way, if there was a teacher younger than me who would run for the position of Secretary General, I wouldn’t have nominated my candidate. I wouldn’t do that, yes, because it’s good to strengthen the next generation. That’s what I had planned,” he explained.

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Sossion also criticized what he called attempts to strengthen leadership within the party, warning against a culture that allows individuals to hold office indefinitely.

“But you see, coming with a culture of breaking the constitution and wanting to be the Secretary General for life in KNUT, that KNUT members have said no, including me, and I agree. When you are 60 years old, retire and go home. So Oyuu no longer has the chance to speak for the teachers and lead the teachers because he has retired. Let him go home,” Sossion said.

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