The National Assembly Committee on Education has criticized the government, university lecturers and workers’ unions for entering into an agreement without concrete evidence.
The committee led by Julius Melly had on Tuesday met with representatives of the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum over the ongoing lecturers’ strike.
The Chair said The Inter Public Universities Council’s Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) had no letter to show that the government has made an offer.
“What the professors are presenting to us is a circus. We can’t discuss this if they don’t have documents. If they knew, how do you sign a document you’re not sure of?” Melly wondered.
Committee members sought answers on the general terms and provisions of the Return-To-Work Formula between UASU and IPUCCF.
UASU’s National Secretary General Dr Constantine Wasonga said the government has frustrated the lecturers regarding the implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
“Our members have been patient, but the government’s reluctance to honour the CBA is disheartening. We only received a fraction of the agreed increase,” Dr Wasonga stated, noting that the union’s call for a resumption of talks had gone unanswered.
According to documents scrutinised by the committee, the implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which promised salary adjustments and improvements for university staff, remains only partially fulfilled.
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The CBA initially agreed to a 7% salary increase for grades 13A to 15A and a 10% raise for grades 10A to 12A, yet according to UASU, only 4.5% of the commitment has been honoured.
The UASU resumed industrial action on October 29, 2024, after a return-to-work agreement reached in September stalled.
The union representatives pointed out the government’s delay in releasing the agreed salary adjustments, which were estimated at Kshs 9.7 billion, led to the renewed strike.
“It is not possible to work with the percentages as given out in the return to work agreement. The workers have done their calculations based on its parameters. The Ksh4.3 billion figure was not part of the signed agreement,” remarked Dr Wasonga.
Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) chairperson Prof Fred Simiyu Barasa pointed out that the government had initially agreed to a pay raise of between 7% and 10%, depending on staff grade.
“However, the funds needed to meet this commitment remain in limbo. The financial constraints we face have delayed the salary increments,” he remarked.
Members pressed Prof Barasa to provide records explaining the revision to Ksh4.3 billion, questioning how the government arrived at this amount.
Recognizing the impact of the strike on students and the broader education sector, the committee urged both UASU and IPUCCF to consider alternative negotiation strategies that would avoid further disruption.
Melly urged both parties to find a workable solution that ensures academic continuity.
The committee directed University Academic Staff Union and Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum to provide further documentation on the CBA implementation and the findings of the Inter-Ministerial Committee concerning budget allocations.
By Obegi Malack
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