University staff issue strike warning
KUSU Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya Dr Charles Mukhwaya (left) during the signing of an agreement for non-teaching staff in 2009. With him are deputy VC Prof Peter Mbithi and Legal officer Ms Rebecca Ngondo. KUSU has warned they would down their tools on August 1, 2013 if the government fails to effect the agreed Sh3.9 billion salary and house allowance increment this month. Photo/FILE
Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) on Saturday warned they would down their tools on August 1, 2013 if the government fails to effect the agreed Sh3.9 billion salary and house allowance increment this month.
KUSU Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya said all 31 public universities would have their operations grounded if the government fails to honour its pledge to release the second tranche this month.
Mr Mukwaya, who was flanked by other KUSU national Executive Committee members told the Nation that the government ought to clamp down on misuse of offices by senior managers at the universities, saying the perks they award themselves amounted to committing a crime.
“President Uhuru needs to send Audit teams to universities to see how funds are wasted where a don’s househelp is paid Sh50,000 and their electricity bills stands at Sh150,000. Do they run factories in their houses?” He posed.
He wondered why they still received Sh150,000 as book allowance in this digital age where accessing any material only needed a small subscription fee and an internet connection unlike in the past when one needed to order for the shipment of a book from foreign based bookshops.
