The government is in the spotlight over how it has handled the lecturers’ strike that has paralyzed learning in universities across the country.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro on Friday, October 24, criticized the government for turning to threats and intimidation instead of negotiating with the striking lecturers in order to contain the strike and solve the issue once and for all.
Referring to the crisis, Nyoro urged the state to keep up its end of the bargain under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and quoted the unpaid amount as having caused immeasurable agony to lecturers and students.
“We do not see the sense of urgency from the government to bring an end to the strike which brought learning to a halt in all state universities,” said Nyoro.
“Instead of negotiations, they are threatening union leaders but the amount owed is such a minor amount and already addressed in the CBA.”
The legislator challenged the government to disburse the KSh7.9 billion owed to lecturers in order to re-open classes.
He accused state authorities of being worried about politics at the expense of other essential sectors such as education.
We are requesting the government to urgently give our lecturers their KSh7.9 billion.
The government cares more about funding political barazas and empowerment forums than addressing this crisis.
The Education and Treasury Ministries should end this game of making universities a circus,” he added.
Nyoro also criticized the government for not being serious about education since some of the schools like junior secondary and high schools had to be closed because the capitation funds were late.
It is tragic that nobody in the government cares. They can cut on non-essential spending and give priority to education. Some of the institutions were forced to close early due to lack of funds. Education should be accorded its rightful priority in Kenya,” he said.
The lecturers’ strike, now in its 37th day, has ravaged university timetables in the public institutions, with workers and students demanding the government to do something quickly.
Last week, the negotiations between the government and the unions of university workers collapsed, exacerbating the standoff.
University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary General Constantine Wesonga blamed the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for derailing the negotiations, claiming it was interfering with the collective bargaining process.
“The SRC has gone beyond its advisory role and is now openly intervening in the negotiations. This has made it impossible for the lecturers to negotiate with their employer,” Wesonga wrote on behalf of the UASU, KUDHEIHA, and KUSU unions.
As the impasse persists, thousands of university students remain at home, fingers crossed for a breakthrough that will have learning return to normalcy in Kenya’s universities and colleges.
