Teachers Make Final Campaign Push in Nakuru KNUT Race
Charles Kimani, contesting for Executive Secretary under Team Change, accused incumbent officials of failing teachers’ welfare and creating an environment of fear within the branch during his Nakuru address.
By Elijah Cherutich
Teachers’ leaders in Nakuru County have been accused of creating an environment of fear and failing to address welfare issues as candidates intensify last-minute campaigns ahead of Saturday’s branch elections at Afraha High School.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers’ (KNUT) Nakuru polls form part of ongoing nationwide KNUT branch elections running from January 10 to March 7, ahead of national contests scheduled between April and June for the 170,000-member teachers’ union.
Executive Secretary aspirant Charles Kimani, contesting under Team Change, accused incumbent branch officials of neglecting teachers’ welfare and presiding over a culture of intimidation that, he said, has weakened the union’s effectiveness.
Kimani claimed the current leadership has failed to convene Annual General Meetings and Annual Delegates Conferences, denying members a voice on key issues such as salary increments, promotions, and overall working conditions.
“The current office has let the teachers down, the leadership is in a huge mess, the branch is dead and that is why we want to bring serious reforms including devolving even our branch to serve members even better,” he said.
He called for credible and fair elections, urging teachers to safeguard the integrity of the process and ensure the outcome reflects members’ will during the Saturday poll at Afraha High School.
Vice chairmanship aspirant Kaburi Kuria raised concerns over Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers repeatedly attending interviews without absorption, saying the matter is valid and requires urgent intervention by the Teachers Service Commission.
Kuria, who is seeking re-election, proposed that TSC establish a databank of interviewed teachers to promote fairness and ease the absorption of qualified candidates into permanent positions.
“It’s sad to see teachers going for interviews as high as four without any success, there should be a mechanism to ensure that once they are interviewed, their data is kept for ease of absorbing them,” he said.
The JSS concerns come as TSC continues recruiting intern teachers, with Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba recently announcing plans to hire 16,000 additional teachers in 2026.
KNUT branch elections across the union’s 110 branches began on January 10 under revised constitutional provisions allowing head teachers to contest, while officials aged above 60 are permitted to serve until 65.
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