‪Sossion Gears Up For Return To KNUT‬

Former Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Wilson Sossion has hinted at a possible return to the helm of the teachers’ union in the upcoming April elections.

Speaking during an interview with TV47, Sossion said he had already met the necessary eligibility requirements and was weighing the appropriate time to formally declare his bid.

“Maybe what is remaining for me is to make a concrete pronouncement, which I will at the right time,” he said.

Sossion served as the Secretary-General of KNUT from December 9, 2013, to June 25, 2021, a period during which he was at the forefront of negotiations and disputes involving teachers and the government.

His tenure was marked by intense engagements with the Teachers Service Commission over issues affecting teachers’ welfare, union membership and labour rights.

During the interview, Sossion maintained that he remains eligible to contest for the union’s top position, noting that the KNUT constitution allows individuals who have served as union officials to run for leadership roles.

“Those who qualify to contest for the Secretary General position in the elections are those who have been officials. I have been a KNUT official in many ranks for over 20 years,” he said.

He further clarified that the secretary-general of a trade union is not required to be an employee in the profession represented by the union, dismissing claims that his previous exit from teaching could lock him out of the race.

“The SG of a union also does not have to be an employee of that trade,” Sossion said.

Sossion revealed that he has already taken steps to ensure his eligibility is not questioned, including formally notifying the current KNUT leadership of his intention to run.

“I have ensured that all the protocols for my eligibility are in place,” he said.

According to the former union boss, he has already written to the current Secretary-General Collins Oyuu informing him of his interest in the seat.

He also disclosed that he had cleared his union dues to remain a fully paid member of the organisation.

“I have written to the KNUT secretary general Collins Oyuu notifying him of my candidature, and my union dues payments are up to date,” Sossion said.

He added that he had gone beyond the minimum requirement in maintaining his membership in the union.

“I am actually the most loyal member of KNUT. I have not just paid up to June 2026, I have also paid supplementary dues,” he stated.

Sossion’s possible return to the KNUT leadership comes after he secured a major legal victory against the Teachers Service Commission. The Court of Appeal of Kenya ruled that the deregistration and termination of the veteran teacher and union leader by the TSC had been carried out unlawfully.

The appellate court found that the disciplinary processes leading to Sossion’s dismissal did not follow mandatory legal procedures, thereby violating employment laws and protections afforded to teachers under Kenya’s labour framework.

The ruling effectively cleared a major legal hurdle that could have hindered Sossion’s eligibility to contest for the union’s top seat.