The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has strongly opposed any attempts by the government to retrench lecturers in public universities, terming such a move unacceptable and shortsighted.
Speaking to journalists at the Mombasa Beach Hotel today, UASU leaders stated that any plans to lay off academic staff would destabilize the country’s higher education sector and undermine national development goals.
The union further called on the government to take full responsibility for paying university lecturers’ salaries, in the same way it finances teachers in basic education.
UASU Chairperson Grace Nyongesa emphasized the dire shortage of lecturers across the country’s universities, warning that any attempt to retrench them would be met with stiff resistance.
“As it is, we do not have enough members of academic staff across all universities,” said Nyongesa.
She added that universities were already stretched and could not afford to lose more personnel.
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“We are calling for the government to employ more lecturers in the universities. Therefore, the dream of retrenching any member of the academic from universities, we will resist in the strongest terms possible,” she told the press.
Nyongesa further argued that university lecturers should not be treated differently from other teachers in public institutions. She urged the government to fully shoulder the burden of paying salaries in the university sector.
“The government should be taking up the salaries of academic staff in public universities just as it happens in schools, high schools, primary schools, basic education,” she said.
“The salaries of the teachers in that sector, even TVET, are paid by the government. None of the teachers is told to generate salaries from the students they teach,” Nyongesa added.
UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga was more direct in his criticism, questioning the logic of laying off the very people tasked with educating the nation.
“How can you imagine that you can retrench or lay off learned people? You think these are ‘gunias’ that you can lay off anytime you feel like. These are people who have chewed books. You cannot lay them off. What country is this?” Wasonga posed.
He further challenged top government officials to reconsider their priorities.
“Those are the things you are discussing in the Cabinet. You are thinking about how to lay off professors. There’s money; talk with that statement. There’s money in Kenya. There’s money. They are doing empowerment. A lot of empowerment. Why can’t they?”
The press conference comes amid reports that senior government officials are considering staff cuts in public universities as a cost-saving measure. UASU leaders have vowed to mobilize their members nationwide if the plans are not dropped immediately.
By Joseph Mambili
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