University lecturers have staged a nationwide strike to push for the payment of delayed salaries by the government.
Through the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), they had issued a 7-day strike notice, which expired at midnight on 17th September without any official response.
“We have not seen any positive move by the government to sort out the problem that is facing us,” said Grace Nyongesa, the national chair of UASU.
The unions are demanding that the government settle the remaining amounts of Sh 2.73 billion and Sh 7.9 billion for the 2017–2021 and 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), respectively.
They are also calling for the commencement of negotiations for the 2025–2029 CBA. So far, the government has only issued pledges rather than meeting the unions’ demands.
“I want to say that dons do not eat statements of intentions. Dons do not eat promissory notes,” said Constantine Wasonga, the secretary general of UASU.
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The strike is continuing despite the government’s release of Sh 2.5 billion to offset part of the arrears, which total over Sh 10.5 billion. Staff unions have launched the strike from various universities across the country, claiming that the government has failed to honour its part of the agreement. They accuse it of not taking the education sector seriously when it comes to salary matters.
“We want both of our CBA arrears paid in total,” said Charles Mukhwaya, the secretary general of KUSU.
Members of the two unions have resolved that all teaching activities in tertiary institutions will remain suspended until the funds are fully disbursed.
“I am under firm instructions that until the Sh 2.73 billion hits our members’ accounts, the dons will remain on strike,” Dr Wasonga emphasised.
This action comes just weeks after universities reopened for a new academic year, with first-year students having already enrolled and many having cleared their fees. For now, classes will remain unattended until the government gives a concrete response to the lecturers’ demands.
– By Timon Otieno
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