Why Sossion wants back Knut top post
Education
By
Lewis Nyaundi
| Nov 14, 2025
Embattled former Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General Wilson Sossion could be on his way back to the helm of the union’s leadership.
Reports point at his plans to recapture the position in the upcoming union elections.
The fierce unionist was edged out of the union and forced to resign in 2021 after protracted war with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
But his name has emerged this week as a possible contender seeking to unseat the current SG, Collins Oyuu, in the elections slated for January.
While appearing on a local TV discussion on Wednesday, Sossion did not directly respond to whether he would be running, but said he was weighing his options ahead of the elections.
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He reaffirmed the position to The Standard on Thursday.
Sossion said he will make his decision on whether to run or not after listening to teachers.
“I am listening to the voices of teachers for advice. You know the circumstances that drove me out of the union. The government of the day was very punitive and hostile; the teachers did not reject me. When the time is ripe, I will call a big meeting and make the announcement,” Sossion told The Standard.
Sossion’s statement comes just two days after Mr Oyuu alleged intimidation in regions perceived to be Sossion’s stronghold.
Oyuu claimed Sossion was using the name of President William Ruto in his campaign for a return to the helm of the teachers’ union.
He said the move has created divisions in the union, with warnings not to set foot in some regions perceived to be Sossion’s strongholds.
Following the warnings, Knut National Chairman Patrick Karinga asked the State to provide Oyuu with a bodyguard for his safety across the country.
“We are asking the State to provide our SG with a bodyguard to ensure his safety following threats against his life,” Karinga said.
Sossion left Knut in June 2021 after resigning ahead of the union election. He had survived three attempts to axe him following internal conflicts in the union.
The former SG might, however, face an uphill task in his quest as TSC already struck his name off the teachers’ register.
But Ken Echesa, an advocate of the High Court, argues that Sossion should not face any challenges in his bid as he remains a union member.
Echesa opines that Sossion’s deregistration remains a matter in court and he still has avenues to challenge the TSC decision.
The Labour Relations Act, he says, provides for persons to vie for any position pegged on the membership of a union.
Echesa further notes that despite Sossion’s deregistration happening in 2017, he continued to serve as SG until 2021 and no one challenged his position.
“The question to ask is if Sossion is a full member of Knut. If yes, then there is nothing that stops him from vying for the position,” Echesa said.
During his time, the fight between the union and the TSC saw its membership drop from an all-time high of 187,000 to 16,000.
On Thursday, Sossion said the move was necessary to allow the activities of the union to go on.
“The government had cut out the release of union dues for eight months when I was Secretary General. The union was starved and unable to run operations. This would only change if I left,” he said.