A highly anticipated meeting between lecturers and Members of Parliament (MPs) aimed at resolving a contentious pay dispute has been postponed, leading to further uncertainty for students and faculty alike.
Public universities across Kenya remain in a state of paralysis as the strike, now entering its second week, continues to disrupt learning and jeopardize graduation plans.
The impasse arose during a scheduled meeting of the National Assembly Education Committee, chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly.
The meeting could not commence as the Interpublic Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) failed to provide the necessary documentation endorsing a Ksh4.3 billion offer to the University Academic Staff Union (UASU).
UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga firmly stated the union’s position, declaring that they would not accept a verbal offer of Ksh4.3 billion when a previously agreed-upon sum of Ksh9.7 billion was outlined in a September 2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“The union wishes to be shown how the CBA has been implemented. Let us not deviate from how we have been implementing our CBAs by bringing in new parameters,” Wesonga insisted.
Adding to the frustration, Professor Fred Simiyu Barasa, the IPUCCF’s joint negotiation committee chairman, admitted that no written documentation regarding the Ksh4.3 billion offer exists.
“We can undertake to ask for that letter and come back to report,” he stated, emphasizing the critical need for clarity in the negotiation process.
As the situation deteriorates, Melly directed that the union and the committee reconvene next week, once all necessary documents are available for review. He urged the UASU to carefully scrutinize any agreements before signing to avoid similar disputes in the future.
The UASU has accused the government of failing to uphold the Return to Work arrangement, which previously saw lecturers suspend their initial strike in September.
This breakdown in trust has led to renewed industrial action, with UASU officials vowing to maintain their presence off campuses until their dues are paid.
