University Strike Talks Fail Once More, Students Told to Stay Home.
University students remain at home as recent efforts to resolve the ongoing lecturers’ strike faced yet another setback.
A meeting organized by the National Assembly Committee on Education was postponed after the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) failed to present documents confirming the government’s commitment to invest Ksh. 4.3 billion towards reopening universities and resuming classes.
The Committee’s chairman, Julius Melly, stated that three Cabinet Secretaries—Education CS Julius Magoha, Labour CS Alfred Mutua, and National Treasury CS John Mbadi—will be summoned next week to outline the government’s strategies for ending the strike.
This decision followed the IPUCCF’s inability to substantiate that the Ksh. 4.3 billion, deemed essential for a resolution, was accessible.
Funding Deficit and Rejection by UASU
During a meeting attended by committee members, the IPUCCF, and the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), the council disclosed that they had only managed to secure Ksh. 1.6 billion.
Fred Simiyu Baraza, IPUCCF chairman, noted that this amount was proposed to the union to resolve the dispute. However, UASU declined the offer, demanding Ksh. 9.6 billion to fully implement a “Back to Work” formula.
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Baraza explained that the Ksh. 4.3 billion figure originated when the union took their demands to an inter-ministerial committee, after rejecting IPUCCF’s initial offer. He clarified that, under the Ministry of Education, IPUCCF cannot issue commitment letters as requested by the committee.
The explanation sparked frustration among committee members, who accused IPUCCF of stalling the process. Igembe North MP Julius Taitumu voiced discontent, stating that multiple meetings had yielded no concrete documentation on the issue.
Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera echoed the concerns, emphasizing that any government agency negotiating financial commitments must have prior written approval, not just verbal assurances.
“It is very disrespectful that we have met more than three times and still have no documentation on what we need. If they don’t have the documents, then let’s end this meeting. Why are they even here?” asked Igembe North MP Julius Taitumu.
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Due to these concerns, Chairman Julius Melly adjourned the meeting, confirming that the three Cabinet Secretaries will be summoned on Tuesday, November 19, to address the committee’s concerns.
University Strike Talks Fail Once More, Students Told to Stay Home.
