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Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) secretary general Akelo Misori and his allies have suffered a major setback after the Registrar of Trade Unions rejected their bid to increase the retirement age of union leaders.

Amendments to the Kuppet constitution had also proposed to have a clause compelling branch officials seeking positions in the national office to first resign from their current positions.

The push to amend the constitution is pitting the old guard said to be fighting to cling to office against restless younger unionists out to take over leadership. During Kuppet’s annual general meeting held in Vihiga last December, the union amended its constitution to increase the retirement age of union leaders from 60 to 65.

The amendments had also made it possible for officials holding parliamentary seats, such as chairman Omboko Milemba, and other public officers to be full-time union officials, against a push by some members to have them resign from one of the positions.

Other changes rejected by the Registrar include a requirement that members of the union’s National Executive Board work full-time provided that any member who gets engaged as a State officer would serve the union part-time.