NO COMPETITION

Kewota is following in the footsteps of the Kenya Women Parliamentarians association (Kewopa) and the Federation of women lawyers (Fida), which Ms Ndegwa noted champion the rights of women and are never in competition with mainstream organisations.

“Why is it that when women come together it becomes an issue? Women’s needs are unique … we want to fill gaps unions have not been able to handle,” said Ms Ndegwa.

She reported that that the association had recruited 60,000 members who will pay Sh200 monthly, translating to Sh12million per month.

Knut collects about Sh140 million monthly while Kuppet collects Sh40 million, alongside agency fees from teachers who do not belong to any union.

According to Kewota Chief Executive Officer Benta Opande, the association will address issues such as investment opportunities, projects, mentorship, sponsorship, training and advocacy.

She said Kewota’s mission is “to create an institutionalised, vibrant and democratic welfare society capable of empowering women teachers and the girl child socially or economically, while enhancing better living standards for them by providing opportunities for career development”.

SOSSION’S THREATS

The latest data from Knut indicates that it has 187,424 members and 126,493 non-members who either belong to Kuppet or are not in any union.

The total number of teachers in the country is 313,917.

Knut has since threatened to kick out its officials who have positions in the new lobby, among them Ms Ndegwa, who is Knut’s second women’s representative.

Mr Sossion said the union will not entertain union officials and officers out to “undermine Knut from within and to blackmail the trade union movement”.

He noted that a meeting of the union’s National Executive Council resolved not to entertain “wayward members who collaborate with enemies of the union, clandestinely forming associations or unions to rival Knut”.

“We wish to make it crystal clear that any person who holds views and aspirations contrary to the union’s vision, mission and constitution should quit Knut forthwith.”

NO COMPETITION

Kewota is following in the footsteps of the Kenya Women Parliamentarians association (Kewopa) and the Federation of women lawyers (Fida), which Ms Ndegwa noted champion the rights of women and are never in competition with mainstream organisations.

“Why is it that when women come together it becomes an issue? Women’s needs are unique … we want to fill gaps unions have not been able to handle,” said Ms Ndegwa.

She reported that that the association had recruited 60,000 members who will pay Sh200 monthly, translating to Sh12million per month.

Knut collects about Sh140 million monthly while Kuppet collects Sh40 million, alongside agency fees from teachers who do not belong to any union.

According to Kewota Chief Executive Officer Benta Opande, the association will address issues such as investment opportunities, projects, mentorship, sponsorship, training and advocacy.

She said Kewota’s mission is “to create an institutionalised, vibrant and democratic welfare society capable of empowering women teachers and the girl child socially or economically, while enhancing better living standards for them by providing opportunities for career development”.

SOSSION’S THREATS

The latest data from Knut indicates that it has 187,424 members and 126,493 non-members who either belong to Kuppet or are not in any union.

The total number of teachers in the country is 313,917.

Knut has since threatened to kick out its officials who have positions in the new lobby, among them Ms Ndegwa, who is Knut’s second women’s representative.

Mr Sossion said the union will not entertain union officials and officers out to “undermine Knut from within and to blackmail the trade union movement”.

He noted that a meeting of the union’s National Executive Council resolved not to entertain “wayward members who collaborate with enemies of the union, clandestinely forming associations or unions to rival Knut”.

“We wish to make it crystal clear that any person who holds views and aspirations contrary to the union’s vision, mission and constitution should quit Knut forthwith.”