Collins has been elected the new KNUT (Kenya National Union of Teachers) secretary general, a body whose key objective is to fight for improved terms and conditions of service for teachers and protecting their interests. Collins Oyuu takes over from Wilson Sossion, a combative SG whose leadership was characterised by the near collapse of the giant teachers body. Sossion resigned from the position in a tear-filled announcement on Friday 25th June 2021. He said he had been frustrated by the government’s failure to support his leadership and faced another onslaught from his deputy Collins Oyuu. His resignation came a day before the Union’s elections. The new secretary general has promised to work with the government and heal the frosty relationship between TSC and Knut.
Age
Collins Oyuu is 56 years old by the time of publishing this post. He was born in 1965.
Career
On Saturday 26th June, Oyuu was elected the new Secretary General of KNUT unopposed.
“I am now the seventh Secretary General of KNUT, a union over 60 years old, older than the government of Kenya I want to say that the new leadership is prepared to bring change to the union,” he said after being elected.
He further intimated that he was willing to work well with the governing body as no institution can run on it’s own.
Prior to his appointment as SG, he worked as the acting KNUT national chairman. During this period, he accused Sossion of being responsible for the downfall of KNUT, saying it was impossible for KNUT to work without the help of the government.
Mr. Collins was a teacher at Ruma Primary school in Siaya county. His long standing affair with union leadership started in 1996 when he was elected branch executive committee member in the same county. His star continued to rise and in 2002 he was elected the chair of Bondo Branch. Six year later (2008) he became secretary of the Rarieda branch and in 2013 joined the Knut National Steering Committee.
The man who labels himself as a silent man, went on to become an assistant secretary general in 2015 and was confirmed for the position a year later. Oyuu went on to be elected as first vice chairman in a by-election in 2018 and was to later become the union’s national acting chair.
The SG will only serve for four years before hitting 60, the retirement age of public servants.
Mr Oyuu has a tall order, reviving a union that is in ICU. Acknowledging the challenges ahead, the SG said:
“The union is a pale shadow of its former self,” …….“The membership has dropped from over 200,000 to about 15,000, but I believe with proper structures, we shall bring back Knut to where it was.”
Others elected unopposed include:
Hesbon Otieno-Deputy SG
Patrick Kariga-national chairman
James Ndiku-national treasurer
Hussein Ali Abdi-deputy national treasurer
Stanley Mutai beat Dan Aloo as the first vice-chairman. Next
