Newly elected Machakos KUPPET Secretary General Yvonne Mutindi addressing the Media after her election. Photo by Virginia Siebella. 
By Virginia Siebella
It marked the end of a political era in Machakos County after long-serving Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Executive Secretary Musembi Katuku was voted out following 24 years at the helm.
In a historic and emphatic outcome, Yvonne Mutindi Musyoka emerged victorious to become the new Executive Secretary, making history as the first woman to hold the top KUPPET leadership position in the county. Musyoka, who previously served as the branch Vice Secretary, secured a commanding 2,128 votes against Katuku’s 958, out of a total of 3,108 ballots cast.
The elections, held on Tuesday, drew unprecedented crowds of teachers from all the nine sub-counties of Machakos, with long queues forming early in the day. Many teachers described the exercise as a defining moment for the union, terming it a “song for change” driven largely by youthful voices determined to chart a new course for KUPPET.
The polls were supervised by officials from the Ministry of Labour and observed by KUPPET National Executive Council (NEC) member and National Secretary for Tertiary Education, Sammy Chelang’a.
Speaking after being declared the winner, Musyoka pledged to champion better pay, improved working conditions, and the protection of teachers’ rights. She reaffirmed her commitment to pushing for full autonomy of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, including their employment on permanent and pensionable terms.
“We will not abandon the fight for JSS teachers. They deserve dignity, job security, and full integration into the teaching service,” she said.
Other officials elected in the hotly contested exercise include Martin Mutisya as Chairman, Justus Nziuko as Treasurer, Meshack Nzaku as Assistant Executive Secretary, Martin Kawinzi as Vice Chairman, Matthew Mutuku as Organising Secretary, Joel Kilonzi as Assistant Treasurer, Bonface Sila as Secretary for Junior teachers, Caroline Mbithi as Gender Secretary, Mercy Muthusi and Stella Musau as Gender representatives, Evarline Keli as the Third Gender representative, Ngunga as Secretary for Tertiary Education, and Dominic Ndua as Secretary for Secondary Education.
Newly elected Treasurer Justus Nziuko said the outcome signaled teachers’ desire for fresh and youthful leadership, urging counties yet to conduct elections to emulate Machakos. He added that his focus would be on streamlining union finances, which he claimed had been mismanaged in the past.
Celebrations erupted among supporters as the youthful “Team Change” candidates swept most positions, with optimism high that the campaign slogan would translate into meaningful reforms within the union.
Observer Sammy Chelang’a called on the government to ensure Junior Secondary School teachers are not confined to JSS alone but are fully integrated into the broader teaching framework to enhance career progression and job security.
The newly elected officials will represent more than 6,000 teachers under the KUPPET Machakos Branch.
