A group of Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) members from Siaya County have protested against school headteachers who are currently holding positions of leadership in the union.
The feeling is that while there is a policy in place that bars school administrators from joining trade unions, there are many a headteacher in the county who are holding the top positions in the union.
The group known as Bunge la Walimu Chairperson Mr Antony Awuor said that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has guidelines in place to ensure headteachers do not hold leadership positions in trade unions.
However, these guidelines have not been followed in the county, leading the teachers to protest and reveal the issue, complaining the guidelines in place have not been followed.
The Bunge La Walimu called for the implementation of the policy and implored the current KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu to iron out their grievances.
“The issue of school administrators having leadership positions in KNUT should be addressed. We urge Oyuu to be aware that we know what is going on,” said Antony Awuor.
The argument of the Bunge La Walimu chairperson is that the Commission issued guidelines that meant school administrators are barred from holding positions in trade unions in July, yet Siaya County has seemingly been exempted from the implementation of the guideline.
In the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed between TSC, KNUT, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET) and KUSNET, a prohibition of headteachers joining KNUT or other trade unions was included.
Mr Anthony revealed that despite their earnest attempts to get the issue addressed, their efforts have borne no fruits and have resorted to the media for assistance.
“Solving of the issue is long overdue. We have no choice other than letting everybody know about it,” he said. He also added that they might resort to seeking legal intervention if the matter cannot be resolved as soon as possible.
According to the signed CBA, all secondary school principals and headteachers of primary schools are prohibited from joining trade unions in any capacity.
On his part, the Siaya Branch Executive Secretary Alex Dunga dismissed the protests, saying that any employee has the right to vie for and hold any position in trade unions.
Besides, Mr Dunga said that everything in the CBA has been implemented or is being implemented in a gradual manner.