- KUSU’s South Eastern Kenya University branch has renewed its push for staff promotions, timely remittance of third-party deductions and improved working conditions.
- ranch officials also raised concerns over delayed local CBA negotiations, salary stagnation and work-related stress during their fifth Annual General Meeting.
- The union says its strength lies in solidarity among its 214 members as it continues engaging university management.
The Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) SEKU Branch members held their branch’s fifth Annual General Meeting on Friday, July 31, 2026, where the event took place at the University Recreation Centre.
Speaking to the members, the KUSU SEKU Branch Chairperson, Anne Kinya Muchai, said: “First of all, I want to express my appreciation for the trust and support you have demonstrated towards me since I assumed office as the KUSU SEKU Branch Chairperson.”
“I am not a writer to just describe the situation but as a leader I bear the duty to agitate for fairness and protection of the employees’ rights and welfare and ensure social justice is achieved,” she added.
“Our union is built on one fundamental truth: there is power in a united voice. When we stand together we cannot be ignored,” the unionist said.
Muchai said: “The KUSU members are the engine of this union. We keep the operations running smoothly, optimising productivity, coordinating and supporting the learning of our students.”
“Yet, for too long, we have witnessed our contributions being undervalued. We have seen our salaries stagnate, the working conditions deteriorate every passing day, our third-party deductions not remitted in a timely manner, the negotiation and signing of the local CBAs deliberately delayed and commuting to work is a real struggle, it has become a full-time job in itself,” Muchai added.
Union raises concerns over staff welfare
“Our purchasing and borrowing power has been weakened, work-related stress/mental health issues have multiplied and our dignity as employees has been stripped off,” the KUSU official added.
“We are constructively engaging the management on the KUSU members’ promotions, timely remittance of the third-party deductions, trainings, mental health issues and improved working conditions. Once we conclude the engagements we will keep you informed of the outcomes. We will not relent until these demands are achieved,” Muchai said.
“Colleagues, bargaining is not just a privilege; it is our right. We are not asking for favour; we are demanding the dignity, respect and fair compensation that we have earned through our hard work. I am much aware that when we sit across from the management, we carry the hopes and livelihoods of every single employee in this room. But a union leader is only as strong as the membership behind them. The real power does not sit at the negotiation table; it sits right here with you. It lives in your courage, your solidarity and your willingness to keep your feet on the ground and hold the line,” the KUSU official said.
The chairperson disclosed that currently their branch has a total of 214 members.
“Our progress must continue to be a steady and deliberate one; we cannot stand still, we cannot slip back, we celebrate the values of solidarity, of compassion, of social justice, fighting for the under-privileged in our workplace,” Muchai said.
KUSU gives update on promotions and CBA
The KUSU SEKU Branch Secretary, Thaddeus Mutisya, in his speech said: “This report focuses on activities that the union undertook in the year 2025 with positive impacts on members. In addition, we capture the challenges ahead and our intentions.”
“The KUSU SEKU held the previous elections as a branch which means more representation and even more achievements. I urge all of us to support each other by giving information and always be ready to support once called upon to do so,” he said.
“We thank you the members for supporting the union especially those who came out to exercise our rights by taking part in the industrial action forcing the government to release funds,” Thaddeus Mutisya said.
“The union was able to navigate through disciplinary cases to our members with a big margin of success during the period under review. We urge our members to continue observing and adhering to the laid down rules. Absenteeism should not be the cause to lose your job,” he added.
“As you are aware the government has promised to release the payment of the balance on the 2013-2017 and 2021-2025 arrears during this financial year. There is hope and we have been promised the funds are secure,” the secretary said.
On staff promotion, the unionist said: “The Vice Chancellor in a meeting that you attended promised to factor the members’ promotions in the budget. Since then we have written to him with no breakthrough. In fact the management has postponed our meeting with them three times but I assure you they must meet the union.”
“We have submitted to the management our proposal for the 2017-2021 CBA and we are waiting for them to call us to negotiate,” the KUSU official told the members.
“Members, as I conclude allow me to applaud you for your patience and choice of coming and request you to support the union as we agitate for better terms and working conditions. The union is keeping its eyes on the ball kindly trust the process,” Thaddeus Mutisya, who is also a KUSU National Governing Council member, said.
Branch presents financial report
The KUSU SEKU Branch Treasurer Josephat Mwangangi also addressed the event.
“It is not by chance but I am honoured to present this report as the KUSU SEKU Branch Treasurer,” he said.
“As you are aware, the university has not been releasing finances for the union during the entire 2025 on a monthly basis. However, during the year under review, the university released some 2,264,874 Kenya shillings in the year,” Mwangangi said, adding that the year was closed with a 150,064 Kenya shillings surplus in the bank.
“I firmly stand to confirm that the national auditor has given the KUSU SEKU Branch a clean bill of account,” he added.
“We estimate that through this year we shall be able to raise some 2,125,398.60 Kenya shillings. This is based on a monthly subscription at the rate of April 2026. Further from the accumulated arrears, we intend also to collect a total of 708,466.20 Kenya shillings through the year. We therefore estimate to have the total collection of 2,550,478.32 Kenya shillings,” Josephat Mwangangi said.
The function was also addressed by the KUSU SEKU Branch Organising Secretary Nancy Mbawe, among others.
The South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) is located in the Lower Yatta District within Kitui County. The 13-year-old university is one of the 42 public universities in Kenya.
By Boniface Mulu
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KUSU SEKU Branch Chairperson Anne Kinya Muchai addresses members during the union’s fifth Annual General Meeting at the University Recreation Centre on Friday, July 31, 2026. She said the union is engaging university management on staff promotions, third-party deductions and improved working conditions.
