Knut officials scuttle school heads meeting

By FRANCIS ONTOMWA

A head teachers meeting in Kakamega was disrupted after Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) officials stormed the session and declared it illegal.

Union officials stopped the peaceful meeting convened at Kakamega Social Hall. In solidarity with the officials, enraged teachers threatened to kick out regional director of Worldlink Press Publishers Edward Okinda, who was expected to facilitate the one-day workshop. Over 750 primary school head teachers turned up for the meeting.

Kakamega County Knut Secretary General John Wesonga faulted the conveners of the meeting saying education stakeholders from the region were not aware of it and termed it a plot to fleece teachers.

“Every head teacher was told to part with Sh1,000 from school accounts. We are wondering why they are collecting money from teachers,” stated Wesonga. In a letter addressed to school heads and signed by Teachers Service Commission county director Janet Onyango, the workshop was collaboration between Worldlink, Directorate of Quality Assurance and Standards, county director’s office and Kenya Primary Schools Head Teachers Association (Kepsha).

Onyango defended the meeting saying her role was to invite teachers after headquarters gave it a green light.