Sossion in trouble after endorsing Raila

juma chrispinus

August 7, 2017 8:42 AM

Mr Sossion was promised a nomination to parliament

Outspoken teacher’s union secretary General Wilson Sossion has a bitter day after endorsing NASA Presidential candidate Raila Odinga.

In a sharp contrast, Kenyan National Union of Teachers Chairman Mudzo Nzili has refuted earlier claims that teachers will be backing Mr Odinga for Tuesday polls.

“National steering committee and national executive council have not declared anything for teachers or support for NASA,” Mr Nzili said.

He retaliated that each teacher has a right to choose leaders for him or herself.

“Teachers are free to support the candidate of their choice and maintain your neutrality for the benefit of activities of IEBC,” he added.

Nzili said that it is unethical for Sossion to associate teachers with NASA and yet the majority of them are doing clerical Jobs at the IEBC.

Addressing journalists in Diani Kwale on Saturday, he said that Sossion sentiments are personal just as his (Nzili) when he declared his support for Jubilee.

“He has been promised nomination and so let him go. Kenya teachers have the freedom to support any party they want. Those in Jubilee strongholds and those in ODM strongholds can support who they want. We have no marriage with NASA. We have not declared to support Raila,” he said.

Nzili said that it has been the norm for the union to work with the ruling government and it will remain so until the next government takes over.

This comes after seven labour movements under the Trade Union Congress of Kenya endorsed NASA flagbearer Raila Odinga’s presidency.

They are KNUT, Kenya University Staff Union, Dock Workers’ Union, University Academic Staff Union, Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists’ Union and KNUN.

They said they feel neglected under the Jubilee government led by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

These unions represent more than 500,000 members in the public service.

TUC-K secretary General Wilson Sossion said the Jubilee government has perfected the act of criminalising workers’ strikes since it took power in 2013.

Mr Raila will be making a fourth stab on the presidency in tomorrow’s general elections. This is on eof the Kenya’s highly anticipated elections. At least 19.5 million voters will be casting their votes on Tuesday 8.

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