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Protests in Murang’a as KUPPET members threaten to disobey court ruling
14th January, 2026 04:25 PM
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Teachers (KUPPET) in Murang’a has vowed to conduct its elections as planned despite a court order suspending the exercise.
Candidates vying for various positions in the union said the court order, which was issued on Friday, January 9, 2026, and served to them on Monday, January 12, 2026, has thrown them into confusion as the preparations for the exercise are already complete.
The candidates said they read malice in the suspension of the exercise, which is slated to take place on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Gikuu Primary in Kiharu.
Addressing the media in Murang’a on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the aspirants said this is denying them their democratic rights, saying they have already invested a lot of money and time lobbying for the positions.
Suleiman Salim, one of the candidates vying for the Murang’a branch chairperson seat, said they will move to court to have the order overturned so they can carry on with the exercise as planned.
“We feel that there are forces that want to interfere with the exercise, and they have used the junior members to move to court to bar us from conducting the elections,” Salim remarked.
“Members from other counties held their elections, but here in Murang’a are being denied the opportunity to exercise our democratic right,” he added.
Being targeted
He argued that if the purported conservatory orders are touching on national issues, no election would have taken place in other counties, and wondered why Murang’a is being targeted.
Dominic Gitau, another aspirant, said the petitioner has not given a valid reason for seeking the suspension of the elections, claiming he is being used by the incumbent officials who fear losing their positions.
“We strongly believe that the petitioner, who is a member of the union, is being used to cause chaos and confusion in the branch so that elections don’t take place,” Gitau said.
“We have taken a lot of time lobbying, and we need to hold the elections so that we can concentrate on our work as teachers and focus on other matters affecting us,” he remarked.
Polycap Muriithi, the chairperson of the Junior Secondary School teachers in the county, said they are agitating for a change in leadership and the election will enable them to put in office officials who will propel their agenda.
Muriithi said the JSS teachers have not been included in the union’s voters’ register despite being members, terming this discrimination.
“We want to have representation in the union so that our issues can be addressed even at the national level,” Muriithi.
The order issued at the Employment and Labour relations court in Nyeri bars KUPPET and the secretary general from conducting the branch elections pending the hearing of the case slated for February 11, 2026.
