By Charles Mutembei
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Tharaka Nithi Chapter has ended the 28-year reign of its Executive Secretary, Patrick Gitonga, after members overwhelmingly voted in James Njebiu, a teacher at Ikuu Boys’ High School.
Many of the teachers linked Gitonga’s defeat to his ‘poor’ handling of a long-standing dispute involving embattled St. Bakhita Chuka Girls High School’s Principal Joan Muchina.
Some of them who spoke to media during the hotly contested elections at Picnic Grounds in Chuka town cited the case among the issues that had contributed to widespread dissatisfaction with Gitonga’s leadership.
The outgoing unionist mobilized a section of teachers for demonstrations at the school where they accused the Principal of defying a strike called by KUPPET. At the time, students broke the main gate and flooded Chuka town streets.
Gitonga had also accused the Principal of being harsh on teachers and mishandling students, allegations that later snowballed into protests by parents at the school and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) county offices.
The teachers’ employer then, directed Ms Muchina to step aside to allow investigations, with her deputy taking over in an acting capacity.
“We were irked by the manner in which Gitonga handled the case. Many of the allegations were false,” a St. Bakhita Chuka Girls High School teacher who spoke on anonymity said.
Another teacher, Ms Lucy Waithira from Tharaka North Sub County, said “Change is inevitable. Gitonga had already retired after attaining 60 years. A retiree cannot adequately address the needs of teachers because some of the policies do not affect him directly”.
As a retiree, majority of the teachers said, Gitonga could not adequately champion their rights.
Ms Muchina has constantly denied the allegations, terming them malicious and driven by personal and vested interests and urged TSC to consider her commendable work in her former schools.
“I am innocent. My accusers are people fueled by personal interests, some of them related to procurement matters,” she said in a recent media statement.
The embattled principal was transferred to St. Bakhita Chuka Girls High School in 2023, a move that was reportedly met with resistance, especially from local politicians, KUPPET leadership and the school sponsor, the Catholic Diocese of Meru.
She previously served as the principal of Mwaani Girls High School for five years and seven months after her deployment in 2018, a period when the school recorded significant academic and infrastructural growth, with its KCSE mean score improving from 5.0 to 7.2, and student enrolment soaring to 1380 from 770.
During her tenure, the school also excelled in extracurricular activities, with its drama and choral verse teams advancing to national levels. Several classrooms and dormitories were constructed and renovated, and a modern school gate installed.
Mwaani Girls was further recognised as the cleanest school in the Eastern Region, an accolade awarded by then Regional Director of Education Dr William Sugut, and which the institution reportedly retained even after her departure.
Former Mwaani Girls Deputy Principal Ms Anne Boore previously described Ms Muchina as firm but results-oriented leader.
The new KUPPET Tharaka Nithi branch leadership has Mr Njebiu as Executive Secretary and Chairperson Mr Misiani Mambo at the helm alongside Treasurer Polly Nyamu, Assistant Executive Secretary Micheni Mbaka, Assistant Treasurer Mwenda Mbaka and Organising Secretary Mr Eric Munene.
Others are Secondary Schools Secretary Mr Gitonga Kiganka, Tertiary Institutions Secretary Ms Immaculate Nthiga, Gender Secretary Ms Sarah Muchoki and Junior Secondary School Secretary Mr Gilbert Kithinji.
