Irene Githinji @gitshee
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) secretary-general Wilson Sossion has dismissed as inconsequential claims he has been removed from the employer’s register.
This came as Central Organisation of Trade Unions – Kenya (Cotu-K) separately urged Sossion to stay put despite the court’s ruling on his employment status.
In a statement, Cotu-K secretary general Francis Atwoli yesterday supported the position Sossion has taken to retain his position both as Knut’s secretary-general and as a nominated MP irrespective of his status as a registered employee with Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
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Sossion said the termination of employment is only as a contract between him and his employer and does not in any way affect his role as Knut secretary-general.
“My name still remains in the register of teachers. I, therefore, call on all-and-sundry to ignore the misinformation being peddled around,” Sossion said in a statement.
He said a secretary-general as per Article 31 of the Labour Relations Act, does not necessarily have to be a person engaged or employed in the sector concerned.
Atwoli on his part said Sossion holds a valid and legitimate position in the leadership of Knut, adding that the ruling does not in any way affect the position of secretary-general as he is elected and voted in by the union’s members.
Atwoli said nobody should intimidate Sossion or try to manipulate the justice system and that he should exercise his duty independently.
“The court observed that as far as TSC is concerned, the release of Sossion from active teaching was to enable him to focus on Knut activities which extensively concerned teachers affairs...
As per the Knut terms of service, any termination of employment of full time elected union official will not affect his rights in the union,” said Atwoli.
