Kenya Teachers Congress

The aftermath

When impunity and tyranny takes centre stage in union leadership, when recklessness dismantles all norms and traditions which have been painfully, cautiously and gainfully laid out over time by wise and mindful fore runners and founders, the end result is chaos and everything comes crashing down like dominoes.

That's what we are witnessing today in the once a time giant teachers union. It has taken more than 50years to build and many former selfless leaders to lay the bricks one at a time, year after year weary and cautious not to tip the boat over so as to bequeath it to the the future teacher's generations. Sadly it has taken only 5yrs after one person who has never faced an election rose to the top by sacrificing many along the way, and amassing psychophants around himself as chest thumping all the way to ruin and destruction.

Unlike the humble Thor and the hammer, He used the position, power and massive union resources given to him by gullible and venearable teachers for self aggrandizement and attainment of political offices.

Stricking from the tower he has brought the magnificent land mark a teachers creation tumbling down, he would listen to no voices of reason. What a loss!

We are yet to see the dust settle, the debris and ensuing chaos. We are still chocking in the smoke and toxic fumes and destruction aftermath.

All the teachers hopes and dreams sacrificed on the alter of impunity, in just 5 years! king Ahab, what a shame!

TEACHERS UNIONS VALIDATION.

Validating your membership in the unions imlies that you remain captive and perhaps a career casualty. You will have to continue paying the 2% and any other dues the union may arbitraly decide from time to time without consulting you as a teacer as the case may sometimes have been. For any recognition agreement to hold,the unions must get 50% +1 of the total members they represent as a union.

With the current situation facing a once giant teachers union, it will be a tall order to raise numbers to qualify for a recognition agreement. Those who will be affected most are teachers who shall have validated at the time the recognition agreement shall be revoked.Teachers are therefore advised to adopt the wait and see approach to study the unfolding events.

Despite it's roles, an effective teachers union is expected to complement the emloyer in fighting for the welfare of the teachers.TSC was able to get something from the government as a result of a strong union.A strong union doesn't mean a strong and despotic leader, it means a union that has structrures, a union whose organs are respected irrespective of who the SG is and works in harmony with the TSC.As such they are able to reach consensus on a number of issues affecting teachers in a positive way.TSC then presents the same to the treasurery for resource allocation.

Do you all remember TSC awarding 50-60% which Knut under Sossion flatly rejected and TSC returned to the treasury?By the time reason prevailed we had lost it.

Another indicator that the current unions have lost it, is seen in the way they have handled CBC and Interdiction cases. Before the Geneva convebtion, the once giant union gave TSC a one week ultimatum of reinstating the teachers, the employer didn't blink and the Sg has been forced to receed. Some teachers came forward to be assisted with expunging their names from the list in court and kewota hired Rakoro advocates for them. This move sent panic and shockwaves along the corridors of Ufungamano street. When he was finally served on Monday, the Sg had to act to save face. Union is now withdrawing the case after 2 good months with teachers going without salaries.

As we speak, the union blocked promotion of teachers to administrative postions and teachers cannot be promoted despite all the vacancies that exist because the case is in court.Who is the union working for? A time has come when teachers must now start asking taugh questions and demanding answers, from these unions. Ktc is watching.

A union should not create a buffer zone between teachers and their employer instead it should be a mediator. Good working relationship promotes teachers welfare.

Do not validate membership to unions which have reneged on their madate to advocate and protect their members but on the contrary fleeced them dry and exposed their careers , hard earned salaries and allowances. A union that has alienated the teachers from the employer and the government of the day. Validating such a union will be a real tragedy to the teachers that be.

Ktc triumphant entry is due in soon.
May justice prevail.

John Mbate

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN

Embezzlement, conmanship and impunity has engulfed the Nairobi Knut executive Leadership branch. One of the BECs has gone to court citing impropriety on the part of the top three branch leaders. He says he forwarded the letter of complaint and intention to sue to the KNUT National SG and now nominated ODM MP Mr. Wilson Sossion on Wednesday the 5th of September 2017 before proceeding to court.
In his affidavit, he claims to have been duped into appending his signature to a document that claimed it was the money they (the BECs) receive from the branch. Later, the same BEC member learnt that the executive had applied for a loan claiming they were purchasing land which they would sell to the teachers of Nairobi at a profit.
The said BEC member is questioning the move as it has never been discussed by the members or the BEC. More so, he claims that he was duped into signing the papers.
The BEC member intimates that Knut BBF and Education Fund has never produced any dividends to the members. He says the two funds plus the Knut bus profits could be used to undertake such projects.
you see a leak on the boat, run for your dear life.

©JONNIMS

KTC cannot be termed as a government project to disfranchise teachers. Knut failed teachers in many ways that we don't need repeating. As early as the famous Kericho/Malindi by election, Knut dropped the teachers' welfare issues and became a political wing of the opposition. As opposed to the practice of remaining apolitical, Knut had become an political wing of the opposition bent on opposing the sitting govt. Its top leadership declared openly that they would campaign against the govt, their employer. Teachers expressed dismay at the stand of Knut SG given that many of the teachers were pro-govt. Knut elections came and that was a shamble of an exercise. Former leaders opposed to the way Knut SG was running the union and who had been labelled G10 were bundled out. They were said to be loyal to the ousted chairman, Mudzo Nzili and that was not a good thing to the SG. Cut the long story short, KTC metamorphosed. Many of the 'rigged out' leaders found solace in KTC.
The registrar refused to register KTC. KTC went to court n was in n out for almost a year. In the case, Knut sought to be adjoined, which they were granted. My question is, since you say KTC is a govt project, how would the same govt take KTC through a court process? Don't u think that if the govt wanted KTC to break Knut it wld have registered it immediately they filed for registration?
Teachers are more disfranchised than ever. Many are crying over the deeds of Knut n the inability of kuppet to raise a voice leave alone a finger. They are looking for a union where teachers' voice can be heard. They want a union that they can be held as the owners of their organisation, a union that they can stand as a team but not a one man's show. That union is none other than KTC!

We are ready to support and value civil societies as long as they are transparent in their activities and and dealings, and not wolves in sheeps clothing. They can be a strong force to propel democracy and Nationalism. KTC is an idea whose time has come, its too late to muzzle its voice, neither is it an obstacle to realising the teacher's dreams. Those other teachers unions uncomfortable with its emergence, should first do soul searching and find out where the rain started beating them.
John Mbate.

Kenya Teachers Congress remains committed to provide an alternate approach to addressing the issues affecting the teachers of this country. We remain politically non partisan and will work with the Government of the day. Teachers issues are serious National issues for they embrace the nations future, its stability, social economic progression and the nations prosperity. KTC embraces vision 2030, by selflessly providing leadership free of self interest. Lets shape our future together.
John Mbate
Interim sec General.

Politics is a game of numbers! The more u marshal, the better you are. Before the elections, teachers' relationship with the Jubilee govt was on its all time low basically bcoz of Knut SG's association with the opposition, NASA. He placed all his bets on NASA winning n forgot in a competition, u can either win or lose. Jubilee won the presidency as well as the majority in the National Assembly. Even if Sossion was nominated to parliament as he envisioned, how much clout wld he carry? He made it appear like all teachers wld go NASA way, but did they? Is he able to mend fences with the Jubilee administration? That is highly unlikely given his nature of chest thumping and staying aloof to the needs of teachers.
Its the practice of public/civil servants' trade unions to work with the govt in power so as to make their members' working environment better. That does not mean begging or bootlicking. This is what Session forgot when he decided to antagonise n confront the Jubilee govt. Teachers are working under the worst conditions ever. They are more demotivated than ever before simply bcoz the Sossion regime failed to fight for them. They have continuously endorsed policies that have persistently worked against the teachers; AON Medical scheme, 0% CBA, Admin's (BONOKO) CBA, supervision by students/pupils, among others have been sanctioned with their blessings, with Sossion specifically appending his signature to them. It has constantly come out clear that he has just been fending for his own stomach. Its hard to deny that going by all his actions, many of which are not sanctioned by Knut organs. Am not a Knut member but his actions n poor leadership affect all teachers in Kenya.
Unfortunately, he turned Knut to a personal property n to dislodge him from its headship is milking a bull. Thus, teachers have so many reasons to move n leave Knut for Sossion and his sycophants whom am expecting to experience their talents in torrent of insults upon reading this post.
KARIBUNI SANA.

Why think the govt takes teachers as lesser human beings? Why did doctors, nurses, lecturers n other civil servants get better deals? Were they dealing with a different govt or one who favoured them? The answer is a big NO! Teachers lacked negotiators at the table. Poor representation resulted in the disappointment we are up to. Knut n kuppet failed us, period!

After a long struggle, the registration has progressed. KNUT, KUNNOPET and KUSNET filed their objections to the registration if KTC. We now await the deliberations of the labour board that's bound to meet and decide on the way forward.
KTC - POWER

THE LIES THAT IS 50/60:
Many teachers have formed an opinion that the 50/60 pay rise was a court award without understanding where it originated. Hon. Judge Odunga did not just come up with the award from the moon. Before you go yapping about the government denied us a 'court awarded' pay rise, understand these facts;
1. Get facts right. What we were fighting for in court was not a court award but an employer award which we had rejected through our so-called unions. The 50/60 pay rise was offered by the TSC in January but Knut rejected it in totality insisting they were going for nothing less than 300%. Since they refused to heed n remained adamant, just chest-thumping, the TSC withdrew the offer. When they realised nothing was forthcoming, Knut went to court. Judge Nduma Nderi after submissions agreed that teachers needed a payrise but 300% was unrealistic. He asked the TSC what it cld offer n after consultation, the judge said since they had an initial offer of 50-60%, they shld re-offer it. That's the ruling that TSC appealed. So, let's understand, if Knut had accepted the offer back in January, the 50/60 was ours for the taking. But every Kenyan entity has a right to appeal any court ruling when they feel aggrieved, n that's what TSC appealed. The appeal was successful n we lost four going for eight.

2. One is more foolish to try n force teachers to vote his/her way. If some teachers have decided to vote for a certain entity it must be with reasons, which is not necessarily due to tribal inclinations. If u think u r the only right thinking teacher, u r deluding uaself. Insults depict what kind of mentality u have. Campaign for ua preferred candidate without insults n pipo might listen to u.

On Friday the 9th day of June, 2017, the registrar of trade unions in Kenya gave notice in the Kenya Gazette the intention to finally register the Kenya Teachers Congress, KTC, a trade union to represent teachers. The existing trade unions, employers federation and the general public has 21days to register any objections.
The teachers of Kenya will finally have a say in running their trade union. The current unions were taken over by people who run them as their personal kiosks. KTC will also reduce the teachers membership monthly contribution to 1% as opposed to the 2% charged by the existing unions. KTC has the most progressive constitution with decisions being made from the grassroot. All teachers in Kenya are highly encouraged to register with KTC.

What did teachers of this country do wrong? 2013 - 2016 CBA was a zero CBA, with no salary increase component. Knut through its SG, Wilson Sossion told us to accept it as a preparation for a better CBA. We had no option but to take it in. We hoped for a better one. Then they signed the 2017 - 2021 CBA. We said it was an administrators' CBA. We said it shows commuter allowance was on the way out. Knut bloggers told us off. We said it lacked in many ways. They told us it was the best CBA ever South of Sahara. They said they had the best lawyers to go through it before signing. And so they agreed on everything and deposited it in the industrial court. It was ready for implementation. We asked for the implementation matrix. KNUT DSG, Hesbon Otieno himself said TSC HQ was to release the matrix by February 2017. I bet we are yet there.
Last week we were surprised as TSC welcomed Knut and its baby for a brainstorming session on how to implement the CBA. The Friday meeting ended in acrimony. Knut is now crying the administrators are being favoured, the point they raised n they bashed us on. Knut wants the CBA implemented at a go, yet they signed a four-year phase!
Now who is fooling who? Was Mr. Sossion blindfolded as he signed for this ambiguous document? Was he under duress? When we raised all these issues, did he listen to us? Why did he take the Kenyan teachers for fools, teachers who were crying foul before the game began? What is the work of lawyers? Why did he lead his union leaders to Naivasha before signing, and to Mombasa to sign?
Who will rescue the Kenyan teacher? What did the Knut ADC ever see in this man? As much as he can fight and hold on a losing end for a long time, he is such a poor policy maker and implementer. Something tragic ought to be done. Mr. Sossion should be removed from any union administration and leadership. Teachers have and are going through the worst ever under the watch of Sossion and his cronies. We need a revolution on matters teachers' union.