Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei has wished former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion well as he appears before Parliament for vetting as a nominee to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
In a message shared ahead of Sossion’s vetting, Sigei said the former teachers’ union boss’s experience and understanding of the education sector would be valuable in the commission.
“I wish you well, Hon. Wilson Sossion, as you appear for vetting as a Member of the Teachers Service Commission,” Sigei said.
“Your experience and deep understanding of the education sector will be valuable as you take on this important responsibility,” he added.
Sigei further wished Sossion a successful vetting process and a fruitful tenure should he secure parliamentary approval.
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Sossion is appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education on Thursday, August 20, alongside Antonina Lentoijoni, another nominee to the TSC.
Sossion’s nominations to TSC
President William Ruto nominated Sossion and Lentoijoni as TSC commissioners in July, with the nominations subsequently forwarded to Parliament for consideration and approval.
Sossion’s nomination has attracted attention because of his long involvement in the education sector and his previous leadership of KNUT.
He served as the union’s Secretary-General for eight years, during which he was a prominent voice on teachers’ welfare, labour relations and education policy.
The nomination also comes months after the Court of Appeal reinstated Sossion’s status as a teacher after finding that his deregistration and termination by the TSC had been unlawful.
His journey into the TSC has also carried a political dimension.
Sossion previously contested the Bomet Senate seat in the 2022 General Election, where he lost to Sigei.
The vetting process was temporarily disrupted after the High Court issued conservatory orders in July blocking further consideration of Sossion and Lentoijoni’s nominations following a constitutional petition challenging the appointments.
The orders were subsequently lifted, allowing Parliament to proceed with the vetting.
If approved, Sossion would bring to the commission extensive experience from both classroom teaching and teachers’ union leadership at a time when the TSC is dealing with major issues surrounding teacher management, professional development and education reforms.
