KNUT issues Govt with 28-day notice over pension arrears

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) chairman Wilson Sossion.   NATION MEDIA GROUP

By PETER OBUYA
Posted  Sunday, October 28  2012 at  14:15

In Summary

• KNUT warns of dire consequences if ultimatum issued to government elapses without prompt response
• KNUT has called for the dissolution of KUPPET to allow effective representation of teachers

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) on Sunday issued a 28-day notice to the government to hasten the payment of pension to more than 52,000 former teachers who retired between 1997 and 2007.

Knut chairman Wilson Sossion warned of dire consequences if the ultimatum issued to the government elapsed without prompt response.

“We are warning the government of dire consequences to be decided during the annual delegates conference slated for December should it chose to ignore the notice,” he said.

KNUT also called for the dissolution of Kenya Union of Post Primary Education (KUPPET) to allow effective representation of teachers.

KUPPET's Secretary General has however termed the remarks as "unfortunate diversionary tactics."

"Mr Sossion should stop living in the past. He is feeling threatened because KUPPET is rapidly growing but I urge him to stop diversionary tactics because he will not succeed in rocking the boat from the bottom,” Mr Misori told Nation.

Mr Sossion made the demands while receiving former KUPPET Vice-Chairperson for Nairobi branch Mrs Benter Opande.

Mrs Opande who until recently was KUPPET Secretary for Nairobi County was accompanied by several secondary school teachers from Nairobi among them principals and their deputies.

They hailed KNUT for articulating teachers’ rights and demands.

“My experience in this field of unionism tells me that teachers can best articulate their rights when they are represented by one union, and that is KNUT,” said Mrs Opande.