Union split over lecturers’ strike
Divisions within the ranks of the university lecturers’ union emerged on Saturday as some officials called off the strike that has paralysed learning in public universities and their constituent colleges.
Maseno University lecturers agreed to resume work on Monday and start fresh talks on pay as Chepkoilel College of Moi University closed. (Read: Kenyan varsities may close as strike talks collapse)
The college became the third institution to close after Egerton and Masinde Muliro sent students home on Friday, with the government maintaining that the strike was illegal.
Maseno University lecturers union boss, Dr Billy Ng’ong’a, said his members withdrew from the strike on Friday evening as they did not want to defy the management.
“We are meeting the executive of the union this afternoon (Saturday) to ratify the position and start talks with the university,” Dr Ng’ong’a said.
The national leader of the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) Muga K’Olale maintained that the strike was still on.
Mr K’Olale, who teaches at Egerton University, however, said Uasu national executive council would convene tomorrow to discuss the progress and the way forward.
“The lecturers going back on our cause are sending mixed signals. The position is that the strike is still on until the government starts formal negotiations,” Mr K’Olale said.
Signs that Uasu was a divided house first emerged on Thursday evening when officials led by national vice-chairman Mutuura Mberia met Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Higher Education minister Margaret Kamar.
Although the meeting failed to end the industrial action that started on Wednesday, Mr K’Olale said he did not recognise the decision of the officials who attended the meeting, and neither was it binding.
“They went behind our back. We did not know of the meeting, neither were we invited,” Mr K’Olale said.
However, secretary-general of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology chapter Moses Muchina said the decision was not to sabotage the national leadership.
The chairman of Uasu, Prof Sammy Kubasu, was not aware of the meeting that took place at Mr Odinga’s office.
“We are working very well with the national leadership and we are not going back. Operations at our universities have been grounded,” Mr Muchina said.
Mr Mberia, however, denied any split in the ranks and explained that the national bosses could not be reached at the time the meeting was called by the PM.
At the University of Nairobi, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof George Magoha, maintained that he won’t close down the institution.
“The university is fully operational and we are engaging the union in talks, persuading them to abandon the strike as it is illegal,” said Prof Magoha.
But the union leader at the UoN chapter, Dr George Omondi, said there was no let-up and the strike was still on.
At Kenyatta University, lecturers’ union leader Charles Wafula said the strike was still on and that they would only abandon it if instructed by the Uasu national office.
