Sossion pledges to defend teachers, TSC if approved as commissioner
Sossion made the commitment on Thursday, August 20, 2026, when he appeared before the National Assembly Education Committee for vetting following his nomination by President William Ruto to the TSC board.
Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Wilson Sossion has assured Parliament that, if approved as a Teachers Service Commission (TSC) commissioner, he will defend both teachers and the commission while helping strengthen the relationship between the employer and the teaching fraternity.
Sossion made the commitment on Thursday, August 20, 2026, when he appeared before the National Assembly Education Committee for vetting following his nomination by President William Ruto to the TSC board.
Responding to concerns over his long-standing role as a teachers’ unionist, Sossion said his background would not compromise his ability to discharge his responsibilities as a commissioner.
Instead, he argued that his experience representing teachers would bring valuable insight to the commission and contribute to better policy decisions.
“The trade union side are merely advocates, and they are an integral part of the teaching service,” Sossion told the committee chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly.
He maintained that both TSC and teachers’ unions ultimately serve the interests of teachers, adding that his transition from union leadership to the commission should therefore be viewed as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation rather than create conflict.
Sossion also cited the appointment of former Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr Ouma Oluga as Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health as evidence that former trade union officials can successfully transition into senior government policy positions.
“The country can attest that the health sector is on a very strong trajectory, so I would wish to say trade union leaders are also professionals with the necessary intellectual infrastructure and capacity to work at the policy level,” he said.
Sossion served in the national leadership of KNUT for nearly 14 years, giving him extensive experience in negotiations between teachers and the government.
He was KNUT national chairman from 2011 to 2013 before serving as secretary general for nearly eight years. He resigned from the union in June 2021 to pursue a political career.
