Learning was yesterday paralyzed in various universities across the country as the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) downed tools over a dispute surrounding the 2021-25 collective bargaining agreement.

Lecturers from several public universities took to the streets yesterday morning as their strike officially began.

But even as lecturers downed their tools, the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) rushed to court and successfully acquired an injunction restraining them from undertaking the industrial action.

“That in the meantime, the respondent (UASU) is temporarily restrained from calling, instigating, or inciting others to take part in any strike or other form of industrial action,” declared Justice Dr Jacob Gakeri of Milimani’s Employment and Labour Relations Court .

Ordered dialogue

Justice Gakeri ordered the two parties, UASU and IPUCCF to continue with the dialogue with a view to solving the issues in dispute consensually.

A spot check in various universities revealed a situation where most students were left on their own with most lecture rooms left empty.

“We came in the morning ready to learn only to find our lecturers are on strike. Some of us are really excited to learn but we don’t have any choice rather than just staying in our hostels. President William Ruto should actually move with speed and address these issues, failure to which most students will actually run into engaging into bad behavior,” Wangari Mugo, a first year engineering student at Nairobi University told People Daily.

Among the universities where the strike took off included Technical University of Kenya, Karatina University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kirinyaga University, South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU), Multimedia University, Maasai Mara University, Chuka University, Cooperative University and Technical University of Kenya in Mombasa and Nairobi.

UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga said both unions would continue negotiations with the government while their members remain on strike.

“I woke up at 2 am and coordinated with all branch secretaries and I want to thank them because they have responded to the call of the union. We are ready for talks but we will strike until we strike a deal,” he said.

Wasonga noted that other public service employees were recently given a seven to 10 per cent salary hike. “We are also government employees. We want the seven to 10 per cent other public sector employees were given,” he stated.

A spot-check at JKUAT revealed a grim picture as over 2,000 workers downed their tools over unresolved pay increments.

Close institution

Led by leaders of Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), they told the university management to close the institution as there will be no teaching until their demands are met.

The employees are demanding implementation of the 2021/2025 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) which is now about four years in arrears,promotions and remittance of statutory deductions among others.

The UASU Chapter Secretary Shadrack Muia, Chairman Muiga Rugara and KUSU Secretary Nickson Chege told their members to stay away for as long as the government and university management take to address the issues raised.

The official demanded answers from the government as to why university workers’ salaries are not paid at the end of the month unlike other public servants and have to wait for two to three weeks to get their dues.

“Employees in other public institutions get their salaries promptly, even as early as 28th of each month while we have to wait until 13th to 15th of the following month,” said Muia.

He also said the government is yet to release Sh51 billion in pension remittances to retired workers.
Chege said it has been close to 10 years since university workers’ salaries were reviewed even as employees in other sectors got a pay raise last year to cushion them against rising cost of living.

Rugara said it appears there is a systematic plot to ruin institutions of higher learning by the government.