Lecturers at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) have joined a nationwide strike involving staff from public universities across Kenya.
Speaking while leading the striking lecturers in blocking the Nyeri-Nyahururu Highway, University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Vice Chairman Daniel Mwai Kiragu criticized the government’s failure to resolve key issues.
He noted that recent negotiations ended without a satisfactory outcome, forcing lecturers to take industrial action.
UASU and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) issued a strike notice after negotiations with the government on the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) broke down.
“The newly introduced funding model by the government, which ties university workers’ pay to student fee payments, is deeply unfair. University staff are government employees and should be treated like other civil servants,” Kiragu said.
He further criticized the funding model, saying it also burdens parents, many of whom are wrongly assessed under the scheme, worsening their financial struggles during such tough economic times.
“This is the fourth year without a pay raise, and we will continue with the strike until the government listens and meets our demands.” Kiragu concluded.
By Rodgers Wagura
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