Knut fights court orders reinstating Sossion

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) officials yesterday clashed in court with their embattled Secretary General Wilson Sossion (pictured) on the validity of court orders that reinstated him.

Lawyers representing Mr Sossion and those for the acting Secretary General Hesborn Otieno gave differing accounts on what happened after the court issued its orders stopping the August 29, 2019 meeting, where members ousted the nominated MP.

Sossion’s lawyer Judith Guserwa told the court the orders stopping the meeting were served to union chairman Wycliffe Omuchei at a city hotel on the same day.

While disputing that he was served, Mr Omuchei, through senior lawyer Okong’o Omogeni, told the court he was in a hospital outside Nairobi on that day so he was never given any orders.

When Sossion called off the meeting, Labour Court judge Hellen Wasilwa heard, 10 members of the National Executive Council convened another meeting, which rubber-stamped his ouster. A total of 29 members out of 41 attended.

Guserwa argued that the meeting was illegal and unfair to Sossion, as he was not given a chance to defend himself.

“Even though Jesus was crucified alone, he was given a fair hearing. Sossion was not called to defend himself before he was suspended,” she argued. But Omogeni argued that Sossion hurriedly called off the meeting, against Knut’s constitution.

He said Sossion should have consulted the chairman when he learnt he was under siege and would be ousted at the meeting. “Jesus was not crucified alone, he had followers. (Sossion) knew he was going to be removed from office, he knew it is one against 41, hence he ran to the court,” replied Omogeni, who is also the Nyamira Senator.

While urging the judge to lift her orders, Omogeni argued that Sossion had a chance to challenge his suspension at the Annual Delegates Conference.