Efforts made to bring together Knut factions

Frantic behind-the-scene efforts are being made to reconcile warring factions in the giant Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut).

The efforts are being spearhead by senior government officers and experienced and retired trade union leaders, who are of the idea that wrangles in the union will also affect other unions.

The 44 members of Knut’s National Executive Council (NEC) who are now in different camps have also been in private talks over the issues that led to suspension of Secretary General Wilson Sossion last month.

The suspension was lifted by the Labour Court pending hearing of the case on May 28.

LUCRATIVE POSITION

The fight in the union that has annual revenue of more than Sh1.6 billion is about lucrative positions that will come with exit of any official, push for one man one job and plan to increase retirement age from 60 years to 65.

The efforts seem to have started to bear fruits as last week, Knut acting national chairman Wycliffe Omucheyi revoked the suspension and show cause letters that had been issued to Mr Sossion.

“You are asked to withdraw the court case against the union or the person in the union  to facilitate industrial harmony. By a copy of this letter, the registrar of trade unions is advised to note the position taken by the union and ensure that the status quo is maintained as per our current register,” said  Mr Omucheyi in a letter dated May 14 to Mr Sossion and copied to Labour Cabinet  Secretary Ukur Yatani, Mrs E.N Gicheha and the Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia.

PEACE

And in a letter to Mrs Gicheha dated May 16, Mr Omucheyi said the decision to lift the suspension is in the interest of peace, harmony and constitutional order and asked her to enforce  the contents of the letter.

Mr Omucheyi also said the notice to kick out Mr Sossion was never issued for discussion as an agenda to enable all eligible members who were within and outside the country to attend the meeting.