Government Fails to Prove Lecturer Salary Payments.
Efforts to end the ongoing lecturers’ strike in public universities met a setback after the Committee on Education of the National Assembly’s meeting, aimed at resolving the dispute, ended in disarray for the second time.
This was due to the Inter-Public Universities Councils’ Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) failing to provide proof of government funding for lecturer payments.
Students remain out of classes, as neither the Ministry of Education nor the National Treasury presented documents showing the government’s commitment of Sh4.3 billion to fulfill the lecturers’ pay demand.
Government Fails to Show Evidence of Funding
On November 5, IPUCCF officials, including Chair Prof. Fred Simiyu Barasa of Taita Taveta University, and Secretary Prof. Daniel Mugendi of the University of Embu, appeared before the Committee along with Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) representatives.
Committee Chair Tinderet MP Julius Melly postponed the session after IPUCCF failed to provide the required documentation.
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Mr. Melly stated that without representatives from the National Treasury and Education Ministry confirming the funding, further discussions would be fruitless. He added that the matter will be revisited on Thursday with the involvement of both ministries.
Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera expressed frustration with the lack of documentation, emphasizing that an agency like IPUCCF should only engage in negotiations once it has received formal approval, rather than relying on verbal assurances.
Diverging Figures
A core issue is the discrepancy between the Sh9.7 billion needed for lecturers’ benefits per Uasu’s estimates and the Sh4.3 billion that IPUCCF claims as sufficient.
Uasu has criticized IPUCCF’s lack of commitment to securing the necessary funds. This discrepancy stalled discussions before Uasu could formally present their demands.
At a subsequent press briefing, Uasu National Secretary-General Dr. Constantine Wasonga stated that lecturers would remain on strike until their demands were fully met, stressing that educators require fair treatment and financial security to perform effectively.
He argued that lecturers could not be expected to return under demoralizing conditions.
Temporary Offer and Further Demands
Despite the disagreement over figures, Dr. Wasonga acknowledged that lecturers would accept the Sh4.3 billion as an interim payment if the government could guarantee the remaining Sh5.4 billion would follow.
Uasu remains adamant about a return-to-work agreement it negotiated with IPUCCF on September 26, which remains unimplemented.
Table: Payment Discrepancies
| Party | Proposed Amount | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Uasu | Sh9.7 billion | Covers full lecturers’ benefits |
| IPUCCF | Sh4.3 billion | Proposed as sufficient for basic pay |
Contentious Collective Bargaining Agreement
A letter dated November 6 from Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala to the National Treasury was presented by Prof. Barasa, requesting Sh4.3 billion.
However, no response was available from the Treasury. Additionally, Prof. Barasa submitted an unsigned Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) dated October 30, 2024, which Dr. Wasonga immediately rejected, accusing IPUCCF of creating an unnegotiated CBA.
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Dr. Wasonga insisted that Uasu’s CBA amounting to Sh9.7 billion represents the agreed basic salary alone, not inclusive of full benefits. He warned that the strike would persist until a fair agreement was established, urging lecturers not to be intimidated by outside pressures.
Conclusion
The lecturers’ strike is set to continue indefinitely, leaving public university students without education until IPUCCF and the government fulfill Uasu’s payment demands.
The National Assembly’s Education Committee plans to reconvene to secure necessary funding documentation and resolve discrepancies between Uasu and IPUCCF figures, in hopes of finally settling the dispute.
Government Fails to Prove Lecturer Salary Payments
