The giant Knut’s chiefs are laying the ground for the creation of a third political force before the 2017 polls, amid reports they could take over the Labour Party of Kenya.
The plan by the trade unionists has quietly been endorsed by an inner circle.
It is understood the LPK could field a candidate for President to challenge Uhuru Kenyatta and the Cord candidate – Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka or Moses Wetang’ula.
Union insiders say forceful Knut boss Wilson Sossion is the man behind the political move after the frustrations teachers have had to endure at the hands of the Jubilee administration.
Trans-Nzoia Knut executive secretary George Makhino lifted the lid on the closely guarded plans when he launched a scathing attack on the Kenyatta government at the weekend.
“We want to take Sossion to State House and put to an end to a regime that does not value its workers; only good at crafting ways of robbing the country through corruption,” the trade unionist said.
However, separate sources told the Star Sossion is rallying teachers to support the opposition in the event an LPK stab at the Presidency is shelved and a runoff contest results.
The plan involves bringing the giant Trade Unions Congress of Kenya, an umbrella body of unions that is a rival of Cotu, where Sossion is also the Secretary General, into the frame.
“We are not going to be observers in 2017. We are telling all the Wanjikus [ordinary citizens] that we can’t sit and see you suffer with heavy taxation while a few elected people sit there just to steal,” Sossion said in November last year.
“That’s why, as a labour movement, we are announcing today that all workers will come together and vote for real change in this beautiful country,” Sossion said then.
At the weekend, Makhino said the trade unions’ entry into politics has been motivated by Jubilee's disregard for workers’ welfare.
The unions’ top decision-makers are quietly saying the 2017 presidential contest is set to become a three-horse race.
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