A crisis is unfolding in Kenya’s public universities as the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) begin a nationwide strike in an ongoing dispute with the government over unfulfilled agreements.
The strike, which kicked off on Wednesday, follows the expiration of a seven-day notice issued by UASU on September 11, outlining several unresolved issues with the government.
University lecturers have been awaiting negotiations for three years, with no progress made since they submitted their proposal on September 4, 2020.
In that proposal, UASU called for an increase in the monthly basic salary to Sh99,650 for the lowest-paid lecturer—a graduate assistant or tutorial fellow—and Sh338,146 for the highest-paid professor.
The CBA was intended to take effect in 2021 if the parties had agreed. However, this has yet to happen, and the basic salary of the lowest-earning lecturer stands at Sh57,729, while the highest earns Sh209,694, excluding allowances.
According to KUSU Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya, the government did not make any offer until 2023, when it presented a nil offer to the disappointment of dons who are no longer willing to wait.
“It is not feasible to continue earning the same in an environment where everything has gone up and our purchasing power eroded,” Dr Mukhwaya stated.
His UASU counterpart Constantine Wasonga said the dons were prepared for a drawn-out boycott.
“We don’t care if it takes years. If they come with promises, we’ll reject them. we want something tangible,” Dr Wasonga said adding that Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua wanted to engage the union after an unsuccessful meeting with Education CS Julius Ogamba on Monday.
“I told him we’ll meet after we launch the strike but we’ll give him an audience,” he said.
The strike comes amidst many challenges that have been facing the Kenyan education sector, including concerns over bad financial management and declining standards of education.
The rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) a new funding model, and delayed salary for staff has plunged the sector into crisis.
Dr Wasonga has voiced confusion over the new funding model and its origins, which has been a point of contention among students and parents due to its inconsistencies.
“We are yet to understand the source of the new funding model and who formulated it,” Dr Wasonga said, adding his voice to the confusion created by the policy.
– By Tina Akal
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