We want better pay and funding, dons tell presidential hopefuls

Varsity lecturers have set out demands they want met by the new government which will take over after the August polls.

Universities Academic Staff Union organising secretary Onesmus Mutio spoke to the Star while asking the government to deal with the crisis facing universities.

“Within the first 100 days the next government should think of how to deal with the situation facing our universities,” Mutio said.

He said the next government should train lecturers, fund research, support students and extend the type of support enjoyed by primary and secondary schools.

Mutio said higher education is neglected and poorly funded.

“If the next government does not take universities seriously then we are likely to close down many universities and the current crisis might escalate,” Mutio said.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu declared 12 universities technically insolvent in the financial year 2019-20.

In terms of dons salaries, he faulted the current government for failing to fully implement the 2017-21 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“They need to ensure the current and the next agreement that is the 2021-2021 CBA are full implemented,” he said.

Mutio added that the current government has failed to support the universities in funding.

“The current CBA is not fully funded, we even have universities paying lecturers and staff only 57 per cent of what they are supposed to receive,” he said.

The unionist, however, did not declare which camp he supports, he said whichever alliance wins, the demands need to be met.

Both Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his Kenya Kwanza counterpart William Ruto met the dons to listen to their demands.

Addressing the CBA issue, Odinga said remuneration isn’t always pegged on agreed percentages between a government and civil servants.

He said salary hikes depend on the cost of living and not necessarily on CBA.

“It’s not a question of how much are you going to give us. It’s the cost of living which makes nurses, doctors, teachers and lecturers continue to demand salary increases. So we must address the issue of cost of living,” Raila said.

Ruto met the dons in a closed-door meeting at his Karen home.

While presenting his manifesto, Ruto pledged to up set plans to promote the higher education sector.

He vowed to establish National Skill & Funding Council that amalgamates HELB, TVET and University Funding Board and increases funding to bridge the current 45 per cent gap.

"Kenya Kwanza government will have fully equipped TVETS in the remaining 52 constituencies within the first two years," Ruto said.

He also promised to set up a National Open University, the first of its kind in Kenya.

The university aims to increase access and reduce the cost of university education while making 100 percent transition to higher education a reality.

(Edited by Tabnacha O)