KUPPET Restructures Leadership to Include More Women and JSS Teachers

KUPPET Restructures Leadership to Include More Women and JSS Teachers.

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has broadened its National Governing Council (NGC) by integrating representatives for Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, women, and persons with disabilities.

JSS teachers will now serve as Assistant National Secretary, while women and persons with disabilities will hold the first, second, and third Assistant National Gender Secretary positions. Additionally, the NGC now includes 11 elected national officials and 16 women representatives from various counties.

The revised constitution also outlines the role of the National Advisory Council (NAC), which consists of elected national officials, including the National Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General, National Treasurer, and key branch representatives nationwide.

Chaired by the National Chairperson, the NAC will convene annually or when necessary to provide strategic direction to the NGC, enforce union policies, and oversee financial and administrative matters. A quorum for decision-making has been set at one-third of the council members.

Inclusive Leadership and Election Guidelines

KUPPET Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima explained that the leadership expansion is designed to foster inclusivity and governance. He highlighted that under the new constitution, election guidelines will enable teachers from historically marginalized groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities, to attain national leadership positions.

The National Executive Board (NEB), composed of 14 elected officials, will continue to handle the union’s daily operations while ensuring regional and gender representation. Its responsibilities include overseeing collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), financial management, and policy enforcement.

KUPPET has also revamped its governance at both regional and branch levels. Eight regional councils—Coast, North Eastern, Eastern, Central, Rift Valley, Western, Nyanza, and Nairobi—will meet biannually to address union and educational concerns. Each region will elect a steering committee and manage finances through branch levies and grants.

At the county level, the Branch General Assembly (BGA) will function under NEB supervision, holding annual meetings to elect branch leaders, approve financial statements, and manage local union affairs. The Branch Governing Council (BGC) and the Branch Executive Committee (BEC) will be responsible for discipline, financial management, and union policy implementation at the grassroots level.

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To enhance accountability and safeguard union assets, KUPPET has increased the number of trustees from four to nine. Elected every five years, these trustees will oversee property management, financial records, and leadership transitions.

Nthurima emphasized that the new governance model aligns KUPPET with national structures and strengthens its capacity to address teachers’ concerns at regional and county levels. He noted that the adjustments would resolve representation gaps and improve the union’s effectiveness in tackling regional teacher-related matters, which had been limited under the previous system.

KUPPET Restructures Leadership to Include More Women and JSS Teachers.

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