The academic landscape in Kenya has come to a standstill. This is because university lecturers and staff across all 35 public universities initiated a strike on Wednesday. The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) took this action.
They did this in response to unresolved issues about the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The unions had earlier warned of this strike, and it has now halted all learning activities in the institutions.
UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga emphasized that despite the strike, negotiations with the government will continue. He expressed gratitude to union members for their solidarity and commitment to the strike. He stated that they are prepared to engage in discussions.
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Nonetheless, they will not return to work until a satisfactory agreement is reached. The unions are advocating for a salary increment comparable to the 7-10% raise recently granted to other public sector employees.
The strike has been a long time coming. The lecturers have been waiting for three years to negotiate the CBA. No significant progress has been made since their proposal was submitted in September 2020.
Wasonga criticized the government’s lack of response, stating that the absence of a counter-proposal until 2023 was unacceptable. He called for accountability from those responsible for the delays in negotiations.
Additionally to the strike, the unions have planned a “mega-demonstration” in Nairobi to further press their demands. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by public university staff in Kenya.
They seek fair compensation and recognition of their rights as government employees. The strike reflects broader issues within the education sector. It shows the need for prompt and effective negotiations between the unions and the government.
