With exactly 52 days remaining before the scheduled Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Migori Branch elections on 10 January 2026, six reformist candidates have delivered a blistering seven-day ultimatum to both branch and national officials: produce the voters’ register, election timetable, and all financial records — or face an urgent court application that will freeze the polls and trigger a full forensic audit.
The ultimatum follows a shocking admission by Migori County Labour Officer Stellah Nuthu that her office — the legally mandated supervisor of trade-union elections — has received none of the statutory documents required to conduct a credible election, despite the branch issuing an election notice on 7 November 2025.
The Missing Documents (Confirmed Missing as of 13 November 2025)
Through Owade & Company Advocates, the reformist team formally demanded on 12 November 2025:
- Certified copy of the KUPPET Constitution (2022 amendments)
- Authenticated Migori Branch voters’ register (2025–2026 cycle)
- Official election timetable and guidelines signed by the National Returning Officer
County Labour Officer Stellah Nuthu’s reply the very next day: “This office is to confirm that this office is NOT in possession of the aforementioned documents.”
Five Years of Alleged Financial and Constitutional Violations.
Internal records, national trustee audits, and member complaints paint a damning picture:
• 2020–2025: No Annual General Meeting or Delegates Conference convened — a direct breach of Article 12 of the KUPPET Constitution.
• 2020–October 2025: More than KSh 42.8 million collected in monthly check-off dues from approximately 6,200 members; only partial remittances reached the national office. Welfare, medical, and sacco contributions remain unaccounted for.
• 2021 Branch Elections: Incumbent Executive Secretary Orwa Jasolo defeated Kenneth Ouma Boro by fewer than 200 votes amid credible allegations of ghost delegates and inflated registers.
• 2023 National Trustees Audit: Migori flagged as one of six “high-risk” branches for persistent non-remittance and failure to file annual returns — no sanctions imposed.
• June 2024 National Executive Board Directive: All branches ordered to finalise and submit updated voters’ registers by 30 June 2024. Migori ignored the directive.
• July–October 2025: Reports of last-minute, unilateral attempts to manipulate the register.
The Reformist Team – “Team Change 2026”
- Kenneth Ouma Boro – Candidate for Branch Executive Secretary
- Joyce Lusia Lunani – Candidate for Deputy Executive Secretary
- Benard Ochieng Obonyo – Candidate for Branch Treasurer
- Kenas Onyango Nyadimo – Candidate for Organising Secretary
- Silas Orwa Otieno – Candidate for Assistant Organising Secretary
- Kenneth Obiero – Candidate for Youth & Gender Representative
Legal Consequences if Deadline Missed
Owade & Company Advocates has placed the following officials and offices on formal notice until 25 November 2025:
- Migori Branch Executive Committee (Chair: Orwa Jasolo)
- Migori County Labour Officer
- Registrar of Trade Unions
- KUPPET Secretary-General Akelo Misori
- KUPPET National Treasurer Ronald Tonui
- KUPPET National Returning Officer
Failure to comply will trigger an urgent application before the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Kisii seeking:
- Interim conservatory orders suspending the 10 January 2026 elections
- Mandatory injunction for immediate production of all records
- Appointment of an independent forensic auditor for branch finances 2020–2025
- Personal surcharge orders against officials for any unaccounted funds
- Declaration that the current leadership is ineligible to contest or supervise elections
National Crisis in the Making
Teachers in Kisii, Homa Bay, Nyamira, Trans-Nzoia, and Baringo have reported identical patterns of missing registers and unremitted millions.
A national official, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted: “If Migori falls, the dominoes will fall across the country. We are staring at possible nationwide industrial action in January 2026.”
Migori teachers have scheduled a peaceful procession on Friday 28 November 2025 from the County Commissioner’s office to the County Labour Office if the documents are not released.
Mr George Anthony Owade, Principal of Owade & Company Advocates, stated: “This is no longer about an election; it is about rescuing a union from capture. Teachers have paid more than KSh 42 million and received nothing but silence for five years. The law will not allow a sham election to launder that theft.”
About the Author
