David Barasa — the current KUPPET chairman and an aspirant for executive secretary seat……Photo/IP
By Timothy Wekesa
BUNGOMA, Kenya
Campaigns within the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) have intensified in Bungoma as teachers prepare to elect new branch representatives.
Heightening competition among aspirants has stirred fresh debate on leadership, service delivery and the union’s future direction in the county.
Speaking at the union’s Bungoma offices during the submission of nomination papers, David Barasa — the current KUPPET chairman and an aspirant for executive secretary — said the branch has “derailed for a very long time,” urging teachers to elect him to restore effective representation.
Barasa is set to face long-serving Bungoma Executive Secretary Augustine Luketelo, a former Bumula parliamentary aspirant under Ford Kenya. Barasa said he is confident he will defeat Luketelo “hands down” in the Jan. 24, 2026, polls.
He is leading a faction of teachers branded Team Change, which seeks to unseat Luketelo.
“Today is my happiest day because history is being made after about 20 years in KUPPET Bungoma,” he said, adding that a “wind of change is blowing” in the county.
Barasa said his interactions with teachers across Bungoma have revealed a raft of unresolved grievances.
These include stagnation in job groups due to what they describe as weak and poorly implemented collective bargaining agreements; inadequate access to quality healthcare; rising stress and mental health challenges linked to tough working environments; the need for greater autonomy in union decision-making; and the urgent improvement of branch infrastructure to enhance service delivery.
He said teachers’ welfare in Bungoma, the union bus and the branch office are all in poor condition.
“When I come in as your branch executive secretary, these are the issues close to my heart,” he said.
Barasa also criticized the current small and overstretched branch office, saying it can no longer meet the needs of Bungoma teachers.
He pledged that, if elected, he will prioritize establishing a modern KUPPET Centre that will accommodate all union officials and teachers, offering adequate space for service delivery, consultations and member support.
Linda Wekesa, an aspirant for assistant gender representative 3, applauded teachers for supporting Team Change, saying the team is ready to serve and represent educators.
“I support Team Change firmly because I believe in progression and growth as young teachers in Junior Secondary School,” she said. “I urge teachers to turn up in huge numbers and prove that tomorrow belongs to the young like us.”
The Team Change lineup includes: Executive Secretary David Barasa, Chairman David Chemosit, Vice Chairman Peter Lutukayi, Assistant Executive Secretary Ferdinand Wamalwa, Treasurer Faith Wafula and Vice Treasurer Cynthia Malaba.
Other aspirants are Organizing Secretary Ashton Mukoche, Gender Secretary Ann Nabutola, Assistant Gender Secretary 1 Hilda Wanyama, Assistant Gender Secretary 2 Chrisantus Waswa, Assistant Gender Secretary 3 Linda Wekesa, Secondary Secretary Rodgers Khayota and Junior Secondary Secretary Emmanuel Walela.
Ends
