Wilson Sossion Pays Tribute to Mentor Francis Ng’ang’a in Emotional KNUT Leadership Reflection

Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General and Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Commissioner Wilson Sossion has paid tribute to veteran trade unionist Mzee Francis Ng’ang’a, crediting him with shaping his leadership journey and commitment to defending the welfare of Kenyan teachers.

Sossion described Ng’ang’a as a mentor, predecessor and towering figure in KNUT’s history whose leadership and guidance helped shape his rise from a branch official to the national leadership of the powerful teachers’ union.

In an emotional reflection following a meeting with his longtime mentor, Sossion recalled how Ng’ang’a gave him an opportunity to serve at the national level in 2001 after his rise through the ranks of the union in Bomet Branch.

He said Ng’ang’a’s mentorship played a defining role in his professional and public service journey, which later saw him become KNUT Secretary-General, a Member of Parliament and eventually a TSC Commissioner.

“Today I had the distinct honour and privilege of sitting down with my mentor, my predecessor and a towering figure in the history of KNUT, Mzee Francis Ng’ang’a,” Sossion said.

The meeting offered an opportunity to reflect on the history of Kenya’s teachers’ union movement, the importance of mentorship in leadership and the enduring responsibility of safeguarding teachers’ interests.

Sossion recalled that Ng’ang’a assumed a critical leadership role following the late Ambrose Adongo, helping stabilise KNUT through what he described as vibrant, firm and charismatic leadership.

He credited the veteran unionist with instilling in him the values of courage, principle and commitment that would later define his own approach to trade union leadership.

According to Sossion, Ng’ang’a did more than provide an opportunity for advancement; he helped lay the foundation for a leadership philosophy anchored in standing firmly for teachers and defending their professional interests.

His journey through the union, Parliament and the TSC, he said, was shaped in significant measure by the lessons he learnt from his mentor.

### A mentorship that shaped a career

Sossion’s tribute highlights the role played by experienced trade unionists in nurturing new leaders and sustaining the institutional memory of workers’ organisations.

His entry into KNUT’s national leadership in 2001 marked an important milestone in a career that would eventually place him at the forefront of debates on teachers’ welfare, collective bargaining and education policy.

The experience he gained within the union later provided a foundation for his transition into elective politics and public service.

Sossion served as KNUT Secretary-General before joining Parliament, where he represented teachers’ and education-related interests in the national political arena.

His subsequent appointment as a TSC Commissioner brought him into an institution responsible for key aspects of teacher management in Kenya.

Despite the different responsibilities associated with these positions, Sossion said the central mission had remained unchanged: serving teachers and safeguarding their welfare.

“From defending teachers in the Union to now serving them at the Commission, the mission remains the same,” he said.

The statement underscores his view that the principles of representation, accountability and commitment to workers should remain central regardless of the office one occupies.

### The enduring value of principled leadership

Sossion praised Ng’ang’a for demonstrating the kind of fearless and principled leadership needed to represent teachers effectively.

For him, the veteran unionist represents a generation of leaders whose contribution extended beyond holding office to building institutions and preparing others to carry forward their mission.

The former KNUT secretary-general said his mentor taught him to remain firm in defending teachers, even when the task demanded difficult decisions and unwavering conviction.

Such leadership, he suggested, remains essential as the education sector continues to navigate questions surrounding teachers’ welfare, professional development and working conditions.

Sossion’s tribute also serves as a reminder of the importance of recognising those who contribute to the growth of future leaders.

In a profession where leadership transitions can shape the direction of institutions for years, mentorship helps transfer experience, preserve institutional values and equip emerging leaders to handle complex responsibilities.

Ng’ang’a’s influence on Sossion illustrates how an opportunity extended to a younger official can have a lasting impact on both an individual's career and the wider organisation.

### Still concerned about teachers' welfare

Sossion said he was particularly impressed by Ng’ang’a’s continued sharpness, humour and concern for the welfare of Kenyan teachers despite his advanced age.

He described the veteran unionist as a man whose interest in the profession and the people he once served remained undiminished.

The observation was a fitting tribute to a leader whose legacy, in Sossion’s account, is inseparable from the history of KNUT and the struggle to advance teachers’ interests.

For Sossion, meeting his mentor was not merely a reunion between two former union officials. It was an opportunity to acknowledge the person who helped shape his values and opened doors that influenced the course of his life.

He expressed gratitude to God for Ng’ang’a’s life, wisdom and continued presence, celebrating the opportunity to learn from a leader whose experience remains valuable to the teaching fraternity.

“Long live Mzee Francis Ng’ang’a,” Sossion declared.

His message celebrates the power of mentorship, the importance of honouring leadership legacies and the enduring bond between those who have served the teachers’ movement across different generations.

As the education sector continues to evolve, Sossion’s tribute offers a powerful reflection on the responsibility of experienced leaders to nurture successors and the duty of those who benefit from mentorship to acknowledge the people who helped shape their journeys.