The Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) officials at
Moi University have warned that many students risk dropping out of university
due to the prolonged lecturers’ strike that has paralysed learning for nearly
two months.
Uasu Secretary Busolo Wegesa said students have been left idle for much of the third semester and are now engaging in various activities outside campus as classes remain suspended.
“We are making another appeal to the government to quickly resolve the lecturers’ strike so that we return to class as soon as possible,” Busolo said.
He said lecturers are ready to teach and recover lost time once the dispute is settled.
The dons accused vice chancellors of being a stumbling block to smooth university operations, alleging they have failed to advise the government properly on the state of higher learning institutions.
According to Busolo, the VCs — who are also beneficiaries of the Collective Bargaining Agreements — have turned against striking lecturers instead of supporting them in their push for better pay.
“The VCs serve in those management positions for a short time before returning to class. They should therefore support our fight for better terms and conditions of service,” he said.
The lecturers, who are demanding Sh7.9 billion in salary arrears and benefits from previous CBAs, have threatened to escalate the strike to street protests if the government fails to act.
Busolo accused the government of dragging its feet in addressing their grievances, even as universities remain shut.
“Students are suffering as a result of this strike, yet the Ministry of Education appears to be taking the situation lightly,” he said.
Moi University Uasu officials, including branch chairman Dr Richard Okero and Mary Chepkwemoi, secretary of the Kenya Universities Staff Union, vowed to remain on strike until their demands are met.
“This time, we must clear every pending issue with the government before returning to class. We do not want to go back on strike again after this,” Okero said.
He added that lecturers would not resume work until negotiations for the new 2025–2029 CBA are concluded.
“We are also parents and we see the suffering our students are going through. That is why we want this matter settled once and for all so that we can go back and recover lost time,” he said.
Okero further accused some university managements of misleading students to return to class despite the strike still being active.
“The students should only listen to what the union says because management has no mandate to call off the strike,” he said.
Chepkwemoi echoed the same sentiment, saying the strike would continue as long as the government delays fulfilling the lecturers’ demands.
Busolo said the dons have been on strike for five weeks and would not resume duty until all grievances are addressed, adding that the government has failed to honour the 2017–2020 and 2021–2025 CBAs, leading to huge financial arrears.
“We are only asking for what belongs to us. Lecturers are now among the most mistreated public servants, yet we are also parents with responsibilities we can no longer meet,” he said.
He said many lecturers are retiring or dying without pensions and other benefits.
“The only thing we know how to do is to teach — but now we have learned how to strike and we are striking very hard until we get our rights,” Busolo said.
