Striking Egerton University dons ignore return-to-work-formula
Striking Egerton University dons outside the Njoro campus on November 4. They downed their tools over salary deductions.
What you need to know:
- The lecturers said that unless Prof Kibwage is allowed to manage the institution, they will not honour the deal.
- When he signed the return-to-work formula deal, Prof Kibwage assured striking lecturers that they would be paid their salary arrears for November from this month.
The leadership crisis at Egerton University deepened on Friday when more than 500 lecturers who had signed a return-to-work formula abandoned the deal.
The deal was signed by the acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Isaac Ongubo Kibwage and Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) national officials led by Chairperson Muga K'Olale and officials from the union’s Egerton Chapter.
The lecturers said that unless Prof Kibwage is allowed to manage the institution, they will not honour the deal.
The embattled Vice-Chancellor Prof Rose Awuor Mwonya was reinstated by the Employment and Labour Relations Court on November 30.
However, the striking lecturers vowed to bar the VC from accessing her office.
"Egerton university workers recognise Prof Kibwage who was appointed by the university council and not any other self-imposed individual," said a statement by Uasu Egerton Chapter read by its vice-chairperson Grace Kibue.
When he signed the return-to-work formula deal, Prof Kibwage assured striking lecturers that they would be paid their salary arrears for November from this month.
However, a statement by Registrar Human Capital and Administration Thomas Serem dashed their hopes. Dr Serem said the university had not received its capitation for November.
“This has delayed the payment of full salaries for November and 50 per cent of the deferred salary payment for April 2020 for staff in Grade V and above," said Dr Serem.
“The academic staff demand full implementation of the return-to-work-formula, failure to which they shall lift the suspension of the strike as agreed on the deal to resume work," said Uasu.
On Friday, the crisis took a new twist when members of the Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu) and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied workers joined Uasu Egerton Chapter to campaign for the ouster of Prof Mwonya.
A meeting by the unions at the Njoro Campus graduation square, resolved that the lecturers will not administer the exams which were planned to start on Monday.
“For the avoidance of doubt, academic staff shall not administer exams on Monday unless salaries are paid in full as envisaged in the return-to-work-formula and that includes statutory and third party deductions,” added the Uasu statement.
This means that the more than 2,000 final year students will have to wait a little longer before they graduate.
The unions demanded that the chief security officer be replaced for blocking the lecturers from holding a meeting at the institution.
Kusu Organising Secretary Wayaya Ernest said the decision by the council to appoint Prof Kibwage on acting capacity should be respected.
"We want structured leadership at Egerton University. We want Egerton to reclaim its lost glory," said Mr Wayaya.
