The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has officially rejoined the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), 53 years after they parted ways, in a move set to cater for the rights of teachers in all aspects. Speaking during the official event to mark the reunion, KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion noted that it’s going to be history on his part that KNUT is affiliating with COTU, when he is the Secretary General. Recounting the events that led to the breaking apart years ago, Sossion said they were separated forcefully by the government of the day back then, to tame their collective bargaining ability.
He said they have decided willfully without being forced to join forces with COTU, “We have decided freely as an organization that now is the time to team up with all the workers of this country and particularly to affiliate with COTU,” he said. He added that the bold decision was born out of a resolution at KNUT’s 61st Delegates Conference, Resolution 10, where members resolved to be a strong affiliate of COTU and consequently benefit from all COTU programmes on capacity building nationally and internationally, with the focus on building a quality teaching force, “Through our affiliation with COTU we’ll be able to achieve our objectives within the Union,” he noted, reiterating that a resolution is final and binding to all members.
Sossion said that he decision to rejoin COTU shouldn’t scare anyone, but its should be a moment of celebration in the country, affirming that it wasn’t just an event but the successful reunion involved meetings. “There have been meetings and out of those meetings we didn’t know that one day we’ll come to this,” he said, “We resolved through the management. It was a matter that we discussed extensively. On his part, COTU boss Francis Atwoli said they’ll e able to deal with pending, current and future issues together as a strong labor force, and that COTU won’t interfere with the in dealings at KNUT.