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Sharp divisions have emerged within the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education  Teachers (KUPPET) over calls by a section of members to call for drastic changes to the constitution to reform the organisational structure.

 A section of secondary school teachers want the  union’s operations streamlined through amendment of its rules and regulations despite the dissenting voices that have emerged.

A number of KUPPET branch Executive Secretaries want the constitution changed for a  better management of the union saying they are rooting for pro rata system to ensure better representation across the country.

Led by Kuppet Nairobi Executive Secretary, Moses Owiti, they said that the review of the union’s constitution will proceed to its logical end and most specifically, the pro rata system must pass because it is a democratic principle widely used by trade unions across the world.

“We have noted with deep concern the wild allegations by some unscrupulous delegates over the union’s ongoing constitutional reforms. Speaking in Machakos, the delegates uttered blatant falsehoods concerning the constitution review process. We are here to condemn their disinformation campaign and to set the record straight for our members,” said Owiti, in a press conference.

Through pro rata, he said the Kuppet leadership will give its members a bigger role in management and decision making processes in addition to ensuring that more union members participate in electing national officials.

According to the secretaries, the union has grown from 20,000 at inception to the current 120,000 and better representation is required and the pro rata system will give voice to all teachers including those form populous and marginalized regions.

Kiambu Secretary Moses Thogo explained the current situation saying, Kuppet operates in terms of counties for instance, Rift Valley has 14 counties so during elections each branch is usually represented by 10 people.

He said some of those opposed to amendments want to work with the tyranny of counties and for the status quo to remain.

“By the time the union was started, there were about 20,000 members and representation of 10 delegates was making sense now we have grown to over 120,000 meaning some branches like Kiambu where we have almost 6,000 members, require better representation in comparison to a branch like Mandera which is new and has 258,” he explained.

He said the union’s constitution should be amended this year so that everyone is aware of the changes by the time of the next elections to be held in 2026.

He said that it will be an opportunity for junior secondary teachers to be brought on board so that they can also be represented in the leadership of the National Executive Board (NEB).

“When we talk about pro rata we are talking about a proportionate number of teachers as per the population of teachers in an area to come and air their grievances in Annual Delegates Conference but not the way it is now,”  Thogo insisted.

With Mombasa Secretary, Lynett Kamadi adding: “It is our responsibility to follow laid down organs to make sure the constitution is amended. A constitution is not static and as we grow we need to realign changes and new areas of growth.”

She dismissed claims that the amendments are about altering retirement ages saying the union is stuck with pertinent issues to streamline the union.

“We want to call on our colleagues that cheap propaganda will not help us, we have grown this union together. It takes a lot of effort, time, intellect and we will not give room to a few of us because of personal interest to rock the boat. We have come here to say we need to be represented across the board,” she affirmed.

And added: “There are a few people who are disgruntled and feel like they want to operate on the status quo so that they can always remain with more slots and have been trivializing the debate.”