The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has demanded full payment of Ksh 7.9 Billion arrears owed to lecturers, overruling the government’s offer to pay them in phases.
Speaking during a press briefing on Friday, October 31, UASU Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga announced that the terms must be met before the striking lecturers resume their duties.
He pointed out how the government is fond of reneging on its agreement in past strikes, vowing that they would not budge until the government settled the decade-long payment.
“The government has been signing documents and renege, so lecturers are ready to go the long haul, and once we’re done, they are ready to resume duty,” Dr. Wasonga stated. “The lecturers don’t want a strike till 2030, this one tunamalizana this year.”
It is reported that the government offered to pay the lecturers’ Ksh.7.9 billion arrears in two phases, on the condition that they resume work.
Dr. Wasonga also revealed that following consultations with the union’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Delegates Council (NDC), they ratified three resolutions that are to be met before the strike is called off.
Aside from the payment of the Ksh.7.9 billion forthwith, Wasonga maintained that the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) must be negotiated, signed, registered and implemented in totality.
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The final resolution involved all public universities and colleges continuing with the industrial action until their demands are met.
“The payment of Ksh.7.9 billion be done at once and immediately. Lecturers, through their organs, have instructed me that they don’t designate knowledge in phases; therefore, the arrears, no one should contemplate or imagine that it can be paid in phases. Bills don’t wait to be settled in phases,” Wasonga remarked.
As the lecturers’ strike entered its 46th day, the union’s decision to reject the offer means that the government will have to go back to the drawing board in an attempt to broker a return-to-work formula.
Initially, lecturers rejected a Ksh.3.5 billion offer made by the Education Ministry, vowing that the full payment must be settled.
By Juma Ndigo
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