Lecturers Reject Ksh4.3 Billion Proposal, Strike Continues.
Efforts to resolve the ongoing lecturers’ pay dispute stalled after a scheduled meeting between university lecturers and Members of Parliament, set for Tuesday, was called off.
This setback has delayed any possibility of resolving the strike, which has now entered its second week, leaving academic activities in public universities paralyzed and graduation timelines disrupted.
Public universities remain in limbo as the lecturers, represented by the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), have ceased their teaching duties to demand a pay raise. This ongoing industrial action has thrown academic and graduation schedules into disarray, significantly impacting students.
The meeting failed to proceed as the Interpublic Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) did not present documents confirming a proposed Ksh4.3 billion pay package for the lecturers, who are represented by UASU.
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UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga stated that the union would not accept a verbal offer of Ksh4.3 billion, which falls short of the Ksh9.7 billion agreed upon in a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in September 2024.
In a session of the National Assembly Education Committee, chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, Wesonga emphasized that UASU requires proof of how the CBA is being implemented. He cautioned against introducing new conditions that deviate from established methods of CBA implementation.
Negotiation Stalemate: Lack of Written Documentation
Professor Fred Simiyu Barasa, Chairman of the IPUCCF joint negotiation committee, noted that while they could procure the required documentation, there had yet to be any written commitment for the Ksh4.3 billion offer. This absence of documentation has led to an impasse, further stalling the negotiation process.
Due to the lack of necessary documents, Julius Melly, the National Assembly Committee Chairman, directed both the union and IPUCCF to reconvene next week when all documentation should be available. Melly also urged UASU to thoroughly examine agreement details prior to signing to prevent similar conflicts in the future.
UASU has accused the government of reneging on the Return-To-Work Formula (RTWF) arrangement, which initially ended a previous strike in September.
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The lecturers had agreed to resume work on the condition that the government would expedite the full implementation of the RTWF. According to UASU, the government’s failure to honor this agreement has driven the lecturers back to the streets.
In a firm stance, Dr. Wekesa, representing the lecturers, confirmed that they would continue their strike and refrain from returning to campus until their demands for payment are met.
Lecturers Reject Ksh4.3 Billion Proposal, Strike Continues.
