UASU dismisses gov't claims on resumption of learning in public universities

UASU insists no classes are taking place nationwide and vows to continue the strike until lecturers are paid their full Ksh.7.9 billion salary arrears in one instalment and the 2019–2025 CBA fully implemented. 

This comes as Technical University of Mombasa students protested, saying the lecturers’ strike has severely disrupted their studies and demanding that the government bow to the lecturers’ terms to end the stalemate.

The lecturers’ and university staff strike across public universities has entered its 43rd day.

UASU has dismissed a list released by the Ministry of Education, claiming that learning is ongoing in some institutions.

The Ministry of Education said learning is partially ongoing in 13 universities, normal in 17, and suspended in 12.

However, UASU maintains that no public university is conducting classes, accusing the government of using the figures to divide lecturers.

“If Alliance, Mang’u and Starehe have no learning going on, and one day school in the village is teaching, can you say there is learning in Kenya? Ask them, if they say only five universities have no learning, why is the government bothered?” Constantine Wesonga, Secretary General, UASU, noted. 

UASU pointed out that despite the government agreeing to pay Ksh.7.9 billion in salary arrears for the 2017–2021 CBA, lecturers will not resume classes because the government plans to pay in three instalments, contrary to the initial agreement.

"Instead of paying the full Ksh.7.9 billion CBA amount, they want to pay in three instalments. That means another three strikes. We don’t want to expose our students to more strikes until 2030. We’ll only return once the Ksh.7.9 billion hits our bank accounts in full," Wesonga remarked. 

Lecturers vowed to stay on strike until the full payment is made and all their demands met, saying they are not afraid even if the strike continues into next year.

“Apart from the Ksh.7.9 billion, we want the negotiated and fully implemented 2019–2025 CBA, and allowances harmonised across all public universities," Wesonga added. 

Despite being listed among institutions where learning is said to be ongoing, students at the Technical University of Mombasa have refuted the Ministry’s claim and staged protests demanding that the government meet lecturers’ demands, saying they are the ones suffering most.

Lecturers and university workers appear firm in their stand, with all eyes now on the government to see whether it will meet their demands after talks collapsed.