Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary-general Wilson Sossion (left) and Tom Odege secretary general for Union of Kenya Civil Servants address the press at a past event. [Photo: nation.co.ke]
The twelfth parliament is set to have the highest number of trade unionists since independence if it goes well for all those who have come out to vie for parliamentary seats.
Controversial and vocal Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion leads the pack of the many trade unionists eyeing parliamentary seats in the August 8 election.
Sossion, who has been fronted by ODM to IEBC for a nomination, is joined by fellow secretary generals of notable unions, Seth Panyako (Kenya National Union of Nurses), Tom Odege (Union of Kenya Civil Servants) and Roba Duba (Kenya County Government Workers) who are seeking to be elected.
The three have high chances of setting foot in the next parliament after clinching nomination tickets of ODM which is the popular party in Western and Nyanza regions.
Panyako is seeking a senatorial seat in Kakamega County as Odege tries his luck for Nyatike parliamentary seat in Migori County. Duba, on the hand, is the party leader of newly formed Frontier Alliance Party, which is popular in Marsabit County. He is seeking re-election as MP for Moyale.
Besides Sossion, who is second in the ODM nomination list for the National Assembly, COTU Deputy secretary general Ernest Nadome is in Kanu's nomination list.
In the outgoing 11th Parliament, Duba and former slain Kabete MP George Muchai were the only unionists.