By BENJAMIN MUINDI, bmuindi@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Wednesday, November 3 2010 at 20:50
Three senior officials of the Kenya National Union of Teachers were on Wednesday forced to step down in a stormy meeting of their executive council in Nairobi.
Knut secretary-general Lawrence Majali, Treasurer Fred Ontere and his assistant Benson Kithuku were shown the door on grounds that they had attained the retirement age of 60.
The union’s national executive council and members of its advisory team exchanged blows at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre as they differed on when the top three were to quit.
Tempers flared when union chairman George Wesonga told the meeting of about 300 teachers that it was the role of the executive council to decide the matter, and that its decision was final.
“The national executive council does not want your advice on this matter. It has already decided,” Mr Wesonga, who is also set to go home in April next year, said.
This remark irked the officials who then charged towards the top bosses who were seated before them to literary topple them from power!
Lenana Hall at the KICC turned chaotic as others attacked a group of journalists recording the scene.
When the dust finally settled, Mr Wesonga said that he had already furnished Mr Majali with a letter of retirement as demanded by their constitution.
In turn, Mr Majali said Mr Ontere and Mr Kithuku had also been given their retirement letters. “I have received the letter of retirement from the chairman,” said Mr Majali.
Officials, who asked not to be named, argued that the trappings of the top positions, including a Sh2 million monthly salary, had made the three to cling to power.
But the constitution, they said, was clear that when one attains retirement age, even before elections are held, the officials are expected to leave office.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment