Former Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Wilson Sossion has launched a sharp attack on the current KNUT leadership, accusing it of abandoning its core role of defending teachers and turning the union into a quiet and ineffective body that no longer speaks for its members.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Generation on Tuesday, Sossion claimed the union has drifted away from its activist roots and no longer champions the interests of teachers as it once did. He said the current officials have weakened KNUT’s voice and reduced its influence in key decisions affecting the profession.
“Oyuu and group have reduced the Union from a vibrant Marxist union that it is known for in the education sector into a social union that you sit at the corner, hear nothing, see nothing, and speak nothing about teachers.”
According to Sossion, this shift has left teachers without strong representation, especially at a time when they need a firm voice to push for better working conditions and welfare. He argued that the union has lost its fighting spirit and is no longer actively engaging on issues that matter to its members.
Sossion, who served as KNUT Secretary General from 2013 to 2021, said growing calls for his return are being driven by teachers across the country who feel the union needs a reset. He insisted the push is not personal ambition but a response to what teachers are demanding.
“The claim for me to go back to KNUT is not my initiative. It is the initiative of the teachers of Kenya… they feel that I should, in fact, have a role,” he said, likening himself to Moses leading the Israelites: “I’ve heard the cries of my teachers in Egypt… and I will go back.”
He also raised concerns about leadership within the union, saying there is a worrying trend of retired individuals holding key positions. Sossion argued that leadership should reflect the active teaching workforce and be in touch with the realities facing teachers today.
“Once you are past retirement age, we have a bad culture in the country that retirees are manning the union. They cannot speak for their grandchildren,” Sossion said, adding that he wants to face a teacher under 60 years old in any contest for the Secretary General position.
Looking back at KNUT’s past, Sossion said earlier leaders followed a clear ideology that focused on mobilizing members and pushing for change. He said the union once operated on strong principles that guided its actions and ensured it remained accountable to teachers.
He explained that the previous approach was grounded in “political revolution theory, or Marxist theory, where you organize and sensitize members and define your objectives and fight for those objectives.”
He contrasted this with what he described as the current leadership’s approach, accusing it of being too close to employers and failing to challenge decisions that harm teachers.
“accepts to go to bed with employers and approves everything that the employer proposes, even if they are detrimental to their members.”
Despite stepping down in 2021, Sossion said he remains committed to the union’s role and believes teachers still expect strong advocacy from their leadership. He noted that teachers are eager to take part in shaping decisions that affect their profession and future.
“The teachers of this country are so vibrant. They want to participate effectively in their political and democratic rights within an existing government ecosystem,” he said.
His renewed interest in the position comes ahead of KNUT’s national elections set for April 2026, where he is expected to challenge the current Secretary General Collins Oyuu.
