Auctioneers yesterday raided the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) head office on Mfangano Street in Nairobi over Ksh1.4 million debt and attached property.
KNUT deputy secretary-general Hesbon Otieno stated that the newly-elected officials were not aware of the debt.
“I arrived and found them taking office furniture and a lot of other equipment. I pleaded to talk to them but they declined.
The development he said was the beginning of a major clean up in the union as covered dirt starts to show.
“You can clearly see that some leaders were engaged in some underhand dealings and with time we shall get to know what else is wrong so we fix it,” Otieno stated.
“None of us was aware of these debts. You can clearly see that some leaders were engaged in some underhand dealings and with time we shall get to know what else is wrong so we fix it,” said Otieno.
The event took place just days after Wilson Sossion, the former KNUT secretary general resigned citing frustration from the government.
“I am making this appeal. I trust that the government will find it necessary to allow the union money to flow to the teachers,” he stated.
KNUT has been unable to pay most of its officials. The union’s staff medical cover remain suspended and some branch offices shut. The former giant union boasted a membership of over 180,000 three years ago and received monthly dues of about Kh144 million.
Today, with only 15,000 members, Knut receives Sh12 million which cannot sustain its operations.
“The reality of the matter is that the union no longer has money to sustain the huge salaries and perks of top officials as had always been the case,” said a newly-elected member of the National Executive Council.
Following Sossion’s exit, Collins Oyuu became the new KNUT secretary-general while Otieno deputised him.
Union members remain hopeful that the new bosses will bring back the glory of KNUT. Some believe they will not, as it is feared being an appendage of the Executive and TSC and if in case, the teachers will be the bigger losers.
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