Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has filed a contempt case against Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, Treasury CS John Mbadi and Labour CS Alfred Mutua, demanding for their jailing over failure to implement Ksh 2.73 Billion salary award directed by the court.
Through lawyer Titus Koceyo, the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has filed a contempt case against Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, Treasury CS John Mbadi and Labour CS Alfred Mutua.
Also named in the petition are Attorney General Dorcas Oduor, Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) Secretary Margaret Njoka, Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) chairperson Prof Fred Simiyu Barasa, and secretary Prof Daniel Mugendi.
Koceyo told Justice Stephen Radido that the officials had failed to honour court orders requiring them to implement Phase II arrears under the 2021–2025 collective bargaining agreement (CBA), worth Ksh2.73 billion, and had also ignored a 2020 ruling on the 2017–2021 CBA.
“The court directed the SRC to work together with the IPUCCF Implementation Committee, the Ministry of Education and the Treasury to provide the additional budgetary allocation necessary for the CBAs, but they have failed to comply,” he said.
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The union further accuses the officials of refusing to negotiate, conclude, register and implement the 2025–2029 CBA, in breach of a 2019 recognition agreement. Uasu is asking the court to summon the seven officials to personally appear on October 6, 2025, to explain why they should not be jailed.
“That the alleged contemnors be punished for contempt of court by committal to civil jail for a period not exceeding six months, or be directed to pay a fine of Ksh200,000 each, in accordance with the law,” UASU states in its application.
The lecturers commenced strike seven days after the end of the strike notice days, agitating that the government has failed to fulfil consecutive CBAs running back from 2017.
The strike has paralysed learning in 42 public universities, leaving thousands of students in limbo, as lecturers insist they will not return to class until their dues are paid in full. UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga said arrears of more than Ksh7.9 billion from two CBAs remain unsettled.
“We want nothing less than full payment. We have been patient for too long, but government promises have turned into endless delays,” Wasonga said on Wednesday when UASU presented a petition to Parliament.
Legislators have pledged to intervene. National Assembly Education Committee chair Julius Melly assured lecturers that Parliament would step in.
“When two parties enter into a contract, they must honour it. We are going to meet with UASU leaders so that we can discuss your grievances. As the Education Committee, we will pursue your demands as we have previously done,” he said.
By Juma Ndigo
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