Lecturers' strike: Learning paralysed at several universities
Learning in public universities was paralysed on the first day of a strike called by the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) to press for the implementation of an agreement to increase lecturers’ salaries.
On Tuesday, union national officials launched the strike at the Technical University of Kenya and MultiMedia University, with a call to the government to honour the agreement both parties signed a month ago.
The officials were led by Uasu Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga, who said that they had received reports from other universities that the job boycott had resumed.
A spot check by Nation established that academic programmes were affected at several public universities. At South Eastern Kenya University (Seku) in Kitui County, the local chapter of Uasu declared that it will boycott a graduation ceremony scheduled for Thursday October 31, 2024.
There are fears of possible disruption of the ceremony where the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Julius Migos Ogamba, will be the chief guest.
Chapter secretary Mboya Kivai said senior lecturers, who form majority of the university senate and who were set to play key roles during the graduation ceremony, would not attend the event in solidarity with other Uasu members.
"It is us, lecturers, who make the graduation ceremony colourful by participating in the academic procession. Besides, PhD students are usually escorted by their supervisors who are all on strike," said Mr Mboya.
However, Seku Vice Chancellor Douglas Shitanda said the graduation ceremony would proceed as scheduled with the available university staff. Prof Shitanda insisted that the graduation is not an academic-related event and therefore could not be postponed.
"All is well. We will proceed as per the graduation plan. We're expecting the Education CS as our chief guest," he told Nation.Africa.
Uasu officials told journalists in Kitui that the ceremony, the university's 11th since Seku was awarded a charter in 2013, will be low-key without involvement of teaching staff. More than 1,600 graduands will be conferred with various degrees and diplomas.
Moi University
Meanwhile, in Eldoret, Moi University Uasu chapter secretary Nyabuta Ojuki lamented that for a long time, the institution has been deducting members' statutory dues without remitting the same to relevant bodies such as banks, hence subjecting members to the anguish of being chased by various institutions for failing to service loans.
Mr Ojuki said Uasu members have lost faith in the university's finance department. They also vowed not to allow management remit the same through exchequer as it has been done before.
The union now wants the university to start paying its members' gross salaries backdated to September this year so that they can individually make remittances.
“For a long time, the university has failed to remit our deductions to third parties...this has forced our members to be listed by CRBs. One of our new demands in this strike is for us to be paid a gross salary without any deductions,” said Mr Ojuki.
Bomet University College
Bomet University lecturers who are members of the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) demonstrate on October 29, 2024.
At Bomet University College, learning was disrupted as lecturers downed their tools. Students could be seen idling in the compound while others studied in groups.
“The government reneged on the return-to-work formula that was signed on September 26, 2024...we will not work until all dues are paid to us. It's an unfortunate turn of events with a government that does not take education matters seriously,” said Dr Omala Musumba, Uasu chapter chair at a press conference today.
Dr Sangura Ramar, the chapter secretary, echoed his sentiments.
Reporting by Kitavi Mutua, Caroline Wafula, Titus Ominde and Vitalis Kimutai
