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Wrangles pitting KUPPET in Murang’a deepen
02nd February, 2026 02:35 PM
The wrangles pitting the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Teachers (KUPPET) in Murang’a are far from over, with a section of members now claiming they have been removed from ordinary membership and pushed back to agency fee membership.
The aggrieved members claim this is an attempt to bar them from taking part in an election whose date is yet to be determined, after a court order saw the exercise postponed.
Addressing the media in Murang’a on Sunday, February 1, 2026, they accused the incumbent branch officials of the malpractice, which they have vowed to challenge in court.
Thomas Kimani, an aspirant eyeing the executive secretary position, said the removal of members from ordinary membership denies them the right to vote and access other union benefits, such as legal representation.
“This is an absolute disregard of the union’s regulations by someone who is out to protect their own interests,” Kimani said.
Kimani added that they visited the union’s headquarters in Nairobi seeking an explanation, but officials there distanced themselves from the matter.
He further said the Registrar of Trade Unions indicated that the office was not involved in the removal of the members.
“We want the executive secretary for the Murang’a branch to provide a clear explanation and the legal basis for the action he has taken,” he added.
Suleiman Salim, a candidate eyeing the chairperson’s position, said the move was a deliberate effort by current office holders to sabotage the election, which he noted is against the union’s constitution.
Salim said that in the school where he serves as the KUPPET representative, more than 25 teachers have been pushed back to agency fee status, meaning they cannot take part in any union activities.
“The executive secretary for Murang’a, I want you to understand that you must reinstate all members to ordinary membership within 48 hours; failure to do so will result in our moving to court to seek legal redress,” Salim said.
“All we want is a free and fair election, and all members must be allowed to take part in the exercise because it is their democratic right,” he added.
Peterson Irungu, one of the members, pushed back on agency fee membership, saying he has been in the union for close to three decades and does not understand the course of action taken.
Irungu claimed that incumbent officials are targeting members who do not support them in a bid to weaken the opposition.
“We are demanding to be reinstated in the register so that we can vote, and if not, they should refund all our contributions made over the years,” Irungu said.
Efforts to reach Murang’a branch executive secretary John Mburu for comment were unsuccessful.
