Under siege: Planning Minister Wycliffe Oparanya.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has explained that hostility against planning, National Development and Vision 2030 Minister Wycliffe Oparanya was precipitated by a remark at a teachers forum last week that ‘ignorance was to blame for critics of his work as a planner.’ 

 Giving a chat on the challenges of education in the implementation of vision 2030, Oparanya said his work ends with planning and directed teachers to the Ministry of Finance over any failed education plans noting: “Ignorance is to blame on those who accuse me over the failed execution of education plans.” 

The remark was not well received by some teachers with Kakamega County Knut secretary John Wesonga in an emotional rebuttal describing the minister’s talk as a waste of time and a pile up of nonsense adding Oparanya’s failure to execute his plans would replicate at County level if elected Governor. 

Asked whether the hostility by a section of the Knut County leadership was by design, County Knut Chairman Patrick Chungani declared the position was not a premeditated and declared the union lost a chance to engage the minister constructively on his development agenda for the county. 

He observed, “The minister left us wondering whether we were the ones he was referring to as ignorant?  Quietly we were furious for his snub. He is the only senior politician who has not sought our advice. We have met Housing minister Peter Soita Shitanda and Mable Muruli both aspirants in the race for governor in Kakamega County.” 

He said the diatribe against the minister should be taken as personal, allaying reports that the race for governor for Kakamega County had divided the Knut leadership. 

“We did not send anyone to insult the minister… that was deplorable. Nobody should purport to hold sway to the teachers vote,” he said. 

Section of Knut officials and members are furious that the Knut county leadership is on the prowl extorting from politicians with promises to rally teachers support in return.