Tonui Enters KUPPET Top Seat Race, Targets Misori

KUPPET National Assistant Treasurer Ronald Tonui has declared his bid for the position of Secretary-General ahead of the union’s upcoming elections.

Tonui announced his candidature on Sunday during a meeting with Bomet branch officials, setting the stage for a contest with long-serving Secretary-General Akello Misori.

The former Bomet Central MP criticised the current union leadership, accusing it of becoming an extension of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and failing to effectively represent teachers’ interests.

Tonui, who has recently been at loggerheads with the national officials after opposing the removal of the age limit for union leaders, said he is ready to take on Misori and his team in the polls.

“I have the capacity to restore the dignity of teachers in this country by being their voice. We will not leave anything to chance but will ensure we overhaul the union leadership,” Tonui said.

Speaking to the press, Tonui said his mission is to return the union to its members.

“I want to bring the union back to the teachers and ensure it speaks for them, which is not the situation as we speak,” he said.

He further claimed the union had become toothless due to leaders pursuing personal interests at the expense of members.

Tonui’s entry into the race sets up a potentially fierce contest with his longtime ally-turned-rival, Misori.

Misori has already indicated he will seek to retain the seat and enters the race with the advantage of incumbency.

The fallout between the two leaders followed Tonui’s opposition to constitutional amendments that removed the age limit for union officials. The dispute escalated when efforts were made to expel him from the union, a decision later overturned by the court.

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Bomet branch, where Tonui is a member, has already thrown its weight behind his bid.

Branch Executive Secretary Paul Kimetto said the branch will rally delegates to support Tonui ahead of the National Delegates Conference.

“As his home branch, we will go the extra mile to ensure he gets the support of delegates during the National Delegates Conference,” Kimetto said.

Kimetto also praised Tonui for supporting the branch’s development initiatives, including the establishment of the KUPPET Centre.