Tensions are boiling over in Migori as the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) branch elections face a potential stalemate over a contentious venue choice.

With a boycott looming, the dispute pits the incumbent leadership against challengers, threatening to disenfranchise teachers who rely on the union to advocate for better pay and working conditions in a volatile economic climate.

The Battle for Awendo

At the center of the storm is the choice of Awendo Green Stadium. Teachers allied to the current Branch Chairperson, Henry Otunga, have drawn a line in the sand, insisting the exercise must proceed at the stadium as originally scheduled by the National Elections Board.

However, a rival faction led by the incumbent Secretary General, Orwa Jasolo, has vehemently rejected the location. Jasolo’s camp accuses the elections board of bias and has threatened to sit out the vote entirely if the venue is not shifted to the Migori Teachers Training College (TTC).

The opposition has raised serious logistical and welfare concerns regarding the stadium, specifically citing:

• Insecurity: Fears that an open stadium is more susceptible to rowdy interference than a controlled college environment.
• Accessibility: The long distance for teachers traveling from far-flung sub-counties, increasing their transport costs.
• Sanitation: A lack of adequate facilities to cater to the large number of delegates expected.

Logistics and Security Assurances

Dismissing these concerns, Otunga maintained that the stadium remains the most suitable option. Speaking from the venue, he argued that Awendo Green Stadium is actually easier to secure, a critical factor in preventing the kind of interference that has marred previous union elections in the region.

To address the cost of travel—a significant burden for teachers—Otunga announced that transport arrangements are being made to ferry voters to and from the venue. He urged the rival camp to respect the board's decision rather than derail the democratic process.

As the election date draws near, the standoff leaves Migori’s teachers in limbo. Unless the National Elections Board intervenes to broker a truce, the branch risks a fractured mandate at a time when unity is essential for bargaining power.