Talks to resolve public varsity lecturers’ strike end in disarray
University Academic Staff Union's National Secretary General Dr Constantine Wasonga second (right), accompanied by the National Chairperson Dr Grace Nyongesa second (left), joins officials and other teaching members during their strike demonstrating in Eldoret City, Uasin Gishu County over pay on August 29, 2024.
Students in public universities will go without being taught longer after a meeting convened by the Committee on Education of the National Assembly to resolve the lecturers’ strike ended in disarray—for the second time.
This is after the Inter-Public Universities Councils’ Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) failed to table evidence that the government has allocated money to pay the lecturers.
When the employer appeared before the MPS on November 5 alongside the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu), the employer had been asked to provide proof that the government had Sh4.3 billion to pay the lecturers.
However, no such document was produced from either the Ministry of Education or the National Treasury.
Committee chairperson Julius Melly (Tinderet MP) adjourned the meeting after IPUCCF chairperson Fred Simiyu Barasa failed to provide evidence that the government had budgeted for Sh4.3 billion to pay the lecturers.
Prof Barasa is also the vice chancellor of Taita Taveta University. He was accompanied by Prof Daniel Mugendi, the secretary of IPUCCF and vice chancellor of the University of Embu.
He said a meeting without representation from the MoE and the National Treasury to give commitment on the money would not resolve the matter.
The MPs had a heated exchange with Mr Melly insisting that there was no need of proceeding with deliberations when the IPUCCF had not proved that it had money to pay the lecturers.
He said the matter would be raised tomorrow when the committee meets the Education ministry and the Treasury officials.
“Where’s evidence of the money. It must be in good faith. IPUCCF is an agency of the government and when going to negotiations, an agency is always given approval and it can’t be verbal,” said Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera.
Uasu insists that their simulations on the lecturers’ benefits will cost Sh9.7 billion while the IPUCCF gives a figure of Sh4.3 billion.
