Kuria Teachers Voice Representation Woes In KUPPET Migori Branch Leadership
It is said that if meaningful and considerate consultation occurs, together with structural reforms, this might restore confidence and ensure that teachers’ voices are well reflected within the union.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET).
By Ruth Sang
The teachers from the Kuria region in Migori County have reportedly expressed grievances over what they term unfair representation within the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Migori branch. The educators warned that unless their grievances are addressed, they may reconsider their involvement level in union activities.
According to the teachers, they feel marginalised under the current leadership and decision-making structures of the union, which they deem an affront to their collective voice. They argue that poor representation renders them less effective in advocating critical concerns affecting their welfare, including the enforcement and implementation of collective bargaining agreements (CBA).
The educators say their issues are not new but have grown in severity with the end of the KUPPET Migori branch elections. No candidate from the Kuria region acquired a leadership position during the polls, something the teachers say shows much deeper issues of inclusivity in this union. They argue that for their interests to be equitably represented, it is necessary to diversify leadership.
Teachers of the region remember that historically, a separate KUPPET Kuria branch operated, which they say allowed representation to be more targeted and responsive. Under such a structure, they claim, many marriages of concepts and priorities drew attention to concerns unique to teachers in the area, because leaders overcame the local challenges facing educators. The teachers now believe that the dissolution of that branch has helped contribute to their present exclusion.
They are calling on the national and county leadership of KUPPET to intervene urgently in reviewing the current branch structure. The review, they say, will build the union’s credibility among the members and ensure equitable participation in union affairs. Their demands are not meant to break this union but to build it more solidly by ensuring everybody is included and fairly represented, the teachers insisted.
Some educators have indicated that if the matter is not addressed soon, their chances of taking part in union programs, meetings, and activities could be reduced. Though the teachers have not proclaimed a boycott or withdrawal from the union, they said delayed neglect could lead to a decreased commitment to union engagements.
The teachers insist that an amalgamation of their interests endows the unions with viability and trust because it should be perceived that all regions have a voice in their union. Addressing this disproportionality will ultimately be beneficial not only for the teachers from Kuria but also create an impact to a greater extent on the cohesion of the Migori branch.
The teachers harbour the hope that KUPPET leadership will engage them in dialogue and not shun them as it strives towards solutions reflecting its diverse membership. It is said that if meaningful and considerate consultation occurs, together with structural reforms, this might restore confidence and ensure that teachers’ voices are well reflected within the union.
About Author
