KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion has responded to an order to vacate office by Labor Cabinet Secretary Phylis Kandie.
Sossion hit back at the CS saying the teachers’ body is not “government property” subject to dictatorship.
“I’m not relinquishing my position. I should go where? I’m here to stay,” he said during KNUT’s 60th Annual Delegates Conference in Mombasa as told by the Star.
The CS in a gazette notice on Wednesday said Sossion cannot continue holding labour positions since he is now a state officer nominated by a political party to represent the people.
Sossion is now a nominated MP under the ODM party.
“This notification to vacate office applies to all trade union officials holding either nominated or elective positions in any county assembly or Parliament,” read the notice.
The same applies for other state officers who hold elected or nominated positions in Parliament.
Article 77 of the constitution expressly restricts full time state officers from holding alternative positions of gainful employment.
They include Kuppet’s Omboko Milemba who is now Emuhaya MP.
Others are Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga who served as KNUT’s Executive Secretary, Nyeri branch, Union of Kenya Civil Servants secretary general Tom Odege who was elected MP for Nyatike constituency and Kericho women county representative Florence Bore who was Kuppet secretary, Kericho branch.