University staff walk out as unrest spreads

Kenya was in a crisis on Thursday after 11,000 workers in public universities downed their tools in the latest case of labour unrest that has plunged the education and health sectors into a turmoil.

The staff, who include 4,000 lecturers from the 31 public universities and colleges, halted work on the fourth day of another strike by teachers which has paralysed learning in public primary and secondary schools.

And strike fever seemed to be spreading fast as doctors in public hospitals announced that they would stop treating patients next week unless the government rescinded the suspension of 393 trainee medics at two hospitals in Nairobi.

Meanwhile, hopes of a return-to-work formula for teachers faded on Thursday after Knut officials pulled out of pay talks with the government. The negotiations started late on Wednesday.

But there were attempts by Education minister Mutula Kilonzo to bring the teachers back to the negotiating table, although it was unclear whether the union officials would play ball.

“We are talking hard...we expect a solution soon,” Mr Kilonzo told the Nation in a text message.

Union chairman Wilson Sossion expressed dissatisfaction with the talks, saying that the absence of officials from the Treasury had devalued the negotiations.

“There are no meaningful talks going on here without the presence of officials of the Finance ministry,” Mr Sossion said.

“How do we negotiate an agreement that was already discussed and agreed upon by the respective parties? It does not make sense at all.

The way forward now is for the minister for Education to take charge of the situation and implement Legal Notice 534.”

But the rival union — the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) — met Labour minister John Munyes with TSC boss Gabriel Lengoiboni and acting Education permanent secretary George Godia, who agreed on the harmonisation of the salaries of their members, who are mainly secondary school teachers.

Once harmonised, the lowest paid secondary school teacher would earn Sh24,000, up from Sh22,000 in basic pay, while the highest paid teacher would take home Sh144,928, up from Sh120,270.

Kuppet secretary-general Akello Misori said the union had also demanded that allowances for teachers be also harmonised with those of their peers in the civil service.

On their part, the public university lecturers are demanding a fresh collective bargaining agreement, which is running two years behind schedule after the last one lapsed three years ago.

Launching the strike for university staff at the University of Nairobi on Thursday, Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) secretary-general Muga K’Olale said the dons resorted to a work stoppage after the government failed to revive pay talks. (READ: Varsity staff vow to down tools over pay)

The union wants a new salary structure that will double the basic pay of lecturers and improve their allowances by more than 100 per cent.

Their colleagues, represented by the Universities Non-Teaching Staff Union (Untensu), are demanding a 200 per cent salary increase.

Uasu proposes to raise the pay of a professor to a maximum of Sh400,000, up from the current Sh165,000 a month, with a new house allowance of Sh95,000, up from Sh64,000.

A graduate assistant’s salary — the lowest paid — would rise to Sh78,000, up from Sh40,000 with a Sh45,000 housing allowance up from Sh30,000.

On the health scene, Kenya Medical Association (KMA) chairman Elly Nyaim on Thursday asked the government to promptly rescind the decision to suspend the 393 trainee doctors registrars) at Kenyatta and Mathare hospitals to avert the strike set for next Thursday.

The registrars’ are demanding payment of a Sh92,000 monthly stipend.

Reported By Benjamin Muindi, Mike Mwaniki and Esther Mwangi