Pressure mounts on varsity over dons

Masinde Muliro University lecturers have given a seven day ultimatum to the management to remit to the relevant authorities their withheld contributions amounting to Sh118 million or face industrial action. Three unions representing university employees presented their memorandum to the vice chancellor Barasa Wangilla on Thursday evening after picketing.

The picketing paralysed operations at the university for the better part of the day. The workers also accused the university of illegally withholding insurance premiums amounting to Sh3 million, Sh2 million Hire purchase credit agreement and Sh3 million for their sacco shares.

The employees are represented by the University Academic Staff Union, University Non-Teaching Staff union and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Health, Education, Institutional and Allied Workers. “Failure to adhere to this request will result to an industrial action," said Susan Choge, the UASU chairperson for Masinde Muliro chapter.

The workers also want immediate resumption of the negotiations done and completed as advised by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission circular for all the three unions simultaneously.

Wangilla declined to respond to the memorandum as he said he was still studying their demands. “I have heard and you have already given me the time-frame within which I should respond, It is not possible for one to respond to a memorandum detailing thirteen points,” said Wangilla who was flanked by DVC Finance and Administration Prof Sibilikhe Makhanu.

Wangilla said that the university has been dialogging with the three unions on the issues they had raised in their memorandum. Armed police officers under the command of Kakamega police boss Joseph Omijah stood guard as the employees held a procession from the graduation square to the VC's office. The workers also want research funds it is withholding and full payment of car and commuter allowances arrears.