Learning in public universities has been disrupted as lecturers and staff nationwide began a strike on Wednesday.
Members of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) downed tools due to a dispute over the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Classes across all 35 public universities came to a standstill as the two unions acted on their threat to strike.
UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga stated that negotiations with the government would continue even as members remain on strike.
“I coordinated with all branch secretaries at 2 AM and thank them for responding to our call. We are ready to negotiate but will strike until we reach an agreement,” he said.
Wasonga highlighted that other public sector employees recently received a 7 to 10 percent salary increase.
“We are also government employees and want the same salary adjustment,” he added.
He emphasized that they have no regrets about striking, citing Article 41 of the Constitution, which allows them to take such action.
“If you didn’t know what you were doing since September 4, 2020, then you should resign. Anyone who has delayed our proposal until 2024 and is still asking for more time should also resign,” he stated.
UASU and KUSU issued the strike notice on September 11, with the strike officially launched by officials at the Technical University of Kenya.
Kenya has 35 public universities and three university constituent colleges.
The unions have planned a “mega-demonstration” in Nairobi on Monday.
At the heart of the dispute is the proposed 2021-2025 CBA.
Lecturers have waited three years to negotiate this deal, with no progress since their proposal was submitted on September 4, 2020.
“There was no counter-proposal until 2023, and even then, it was a nil offer. We’ve told the Cabinet Secretary that if they can’t provide a salary increase, they should at least offer some minimum support,” KUSU Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya said earlier.
