Sossion, Oyuu Verbal Spat Over KNUT’s Assets And Liabilities Threatens To Open Legal Battles.
A verbal spat between Knut Secretary-General Collins Oyuu and his predecessor Wilson Sossion erupted on Tuesday, with both parties accusing the other of lying about their assets and liabilities.
Mr Sossion dared Mr Oyuu to sue him over allegations that he had left a mountain of debt behind and had yet to hand over property belonging to the Kenya National Union of Teachers.
“I understand Mr Oyuu has threatened to take me to court. They should avoid my name and fight their own woes. I left Knut legally, the only thing that is remaining is to handover within the next two weeks from the letter that I wrote,” said Mr Sossion.
He claimed that the union’s debt was Sh34 million as of April 2020, dismissing Mr Oyuu’s claims that they inherited a Sh301 million debt.
He claimed that the union’s debt was Sh34 million as of April 2020 and dismissed Mr Oyuu’s claims that they inherited a Sh301 million debt.
But Sossion claims Mr Oyuu has been making false accusations against him since he left office.
My attention has been drawn to allegations of the existence of fictitious debts attributed to my administration. I find these allegations not only malicious and inaccurate but outrageous,” said Mr Sossion.
“Those guys are imagining the enemy is still Sossion. That’s where they go wrong. They are being pushed by the government,” he added.
Mr Sossion claimed that the current officials had paid themselves salaries and allowances totaling Sh18 million per person per month since August last year, amounting to Sh102 million against a monthly income of Sh160 million.
It is thus outrageous for them to create non-existent bills to cover up their activities according to Sossion who maintains that he is only concerned with preserving his legacy at Knut.
“The truth must come out as regards the authentic assets and liabilities as of June 25, 2021,” he said in a letter dated February 17.
Mr. Sossion also charged the Knut leadership with illegally operating the union’s bank accounts before they were formally handed over by previous signatories.
He claimed that the current leadership signed a ‘empty’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for 2021-2025, which has left many teachers dissatisfied.
According to the former secretary-general, the current leadership signed off on Knut’s traditional jurisdiction and gave away post-primary teachers without the consent of members.
This restricts teachers’ constitutional rights as outlined in Article 41 of the constitution. Sossion explains that t they cannot kick out post-primary teachers simply by signing a recognition agreement with the Teachers Service Commission.
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He also claimed that the current administration approved the closure of 63 branches without consulting members accusing them of compromising and overturning judgments that deprived teachers of their rights.
Mr Sossion claimed that Knut had colluded with cartels in order to frustrate members, citing the controversial Teacher Professional Development (TPD) program.
“They insist on supporting TPD while Parliament is interested in suspending the programme to save teachers,” he said, adding that Knut vacated a judgment that required TSC to develop regulations over TPD.
He also claimed that the union had embezzled funds and then tried to cover it up by blaming the deficit on ‘past debts.’
Speaking at the union’s special annual delegate’s conference (ADC) on Saturday, Mr Oyuu threatened to take Mr Sossion to court if he continued to interfere with union affairs.
Oyuu stated that the former secretary-general is no longer regarded as a teacher. He noted that Sossion was removed from the register by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and also ceased to be a member of the union due to non-remittance of union dues.
Mr Oyuu threatened Sossion that should he not stay out of Knut’s business by causing interference he will be forced to take legal action.
KNUT urged its members to refrain from engaging in unconstitutional activities adding that the union has methods for channelling grievances.
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Sossion, Oyuu Verbal Spat Over KNUT’s Assets And Liabilities Threatens To Open Legal Battles.
