Moi University Lecturers Threaten to Take Strike to the Streets Over Unmet Demands
The union leaders criticized the university management for asking students to report back to class while the strike was still on.
The union leaders condemned certain vice chancellors and deputy vice chancellors—who themselves were former lecturers—to have turned against their members once they took up administrative positions. Photo/ Achieng Kemuma
By Ruth Sang
Moi University lecturers gave the government a stern warning that they would raise their ongoing industrial action to street protests if their grievances are not addressed. The lecturers, who are under cover of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), vented displeasure at the speed of response to their grievances from the government, which have paralysed learning at the university for weeks.
The union officials, headed by branch secretary Busolo Wegesa, blamed the government for not considering the plight of workers in universities and overlooking their long-standing grievances. The officials mentioned that the continuous inaction had not only impacted scholarly work but also resulted in much pain to students. “Students are stuck, and their studies are at risk, yet the Ministry of Education does not care about it,” Wegesa lamented.
Payment of KSh7.9 billion arrears is at the center of lecturers’ grievances, which they attribute to the government‘s inability to uphold previous Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs). Wegesa was categorical that the lecturers would not return to work until their pending dues are paid and all their broader demands are met.
He was joined by UASU branch chairman Richard Okero and Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) secretary Mary Chepkwemoi, who echoed his sentiments. Okero emphasized that this time around, the union desires to resolve all outstanding issues before going back to class. “We do not wish to go back to work in order to face another strike in a few months. All issues that have not been addressed need to be addressed now,” Okero emphasized.
Okero also insisted that the talks over the 2025-2029 CBA should be concluded before lecturers get back to work. He confessed that the students are suffering but asserted that the government should make a decisive move to end the stalemate. “We are parents, too, and we feel the pain our learners are going through. That is why we need a lasting solution so that we can return to teaching and catch up on the lost time,” he added.
The union leaders criticized the university management for asking students to report back to class while the strike was still on. Okero called upon the students to adhere to directives from the union, as the management lacks a mandate to shut down the industrial action.
Busolo revealed that lecturers have been in a five-week strike and vowed to escalate protests to the streets if the government persists in turning a blind eye to them. He accused the state of breaking agreements made under the 2017–2020 and 2021–2025 CBAs, which has seen unprecedented financial arrears as well as general misery among the lecturers.
We are only asking for what is our just share,” Busolo added. “The lecturers are the most neglected public servants, struggling to meet the needs of the family, retiring without a benefit, and dying in desolation. We are a teaching profession, but we have now mastered the art of striking until there is justice.”.
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