Learning at all public universities paralysed

University lecturers on Wednesday made good their threat and downed tools, paralysing learning in public universities.

Students could be seen loitering around the university compounds while a few met in small groups to read on their own.

At Kenyatta University, at least 2,000 workers, both academic and non-teaching staff, held demonstrations around the university’s main campus grounds and assembled at the Graduation Square for the better part of the day, being addressed by their union officials.

“We have inconvenienced our students but we need to be comfortable to serve them better,” said Dr Richard Wafula, the Uasu Kenyatta University chapter secretary-general.

Kenya Polytechnics

Kenya Polytechnics lecturers, too, defended their decision. “We constitutionally gave a notice and we are ready to resume work as soon the government restarts the stalled negotiations,” a union official said.

The dons are demanding that their pay be equal to that of members of Parliament or harmonised with those in the public service with similar qualifications such as permanent secretaries and judges.

Currently, a lecturer at the level of tutorial fellow gets a basic salary of Sh47,000 while a full professor starts at Sh135,000.

Uasu wants the government to come with a “serious” counter proposal to theirs in order for them to go back to the negotiation table.

The lecturers are also complaining of being burdened the large number of students.

“We teach classes of up to 400 students but now we want that number reduced to a maximum of 30 per class,” Dr Wafula said.

The strike is likely to affect end of semester examinations in most universities and next semester’s intake should the government and the union stick to their hard-line positions.

At Moi University in Eldoret, lecturers and non-teaching staff were also on strike.

At the main campus, lecturers assembled early and started to sing solidarity songs in support of the strike while at Eldoret West campus, learning went on in the morning before lecturers joined the strike in the afternoon.

At Maseno University learning was paralysed, and students who had prepared for the Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs) shelved their pens indefinitely.

Mr Edward Olela, the Dean of students, said: “No learning has taken place today. Operations in other departments like kitchen, library and hospital have also been grounded by the on-going industrial action.”

At the Coast, more than 700 lecturers and staff at Mombasa University Polytechnic College yesterday joined the ongoing strike.

Learning and other operations at Egerton University and Laikipia University College were similarly brought to a standstill.

It was the same case in Narok University, which is a constituent college of Moi University.

Five other campuses of public universities in Nakuru were also affected by the strike for better working conditions and increased remuneration.

At Narok University College, attempts by the administration to persuade officials to suspend their industrial action fell on deaf ears.

At Laikipia Campus, the non-teaching staff were engaged in a day-long meeting as the students stayed away from the lecture rooms. Police were on alert to avert any ugly incidents.

In Nyeri, learning at some public university campuses was affected. However, their part time counterparts continued to teach.

At the Kimathi University College of Technology, a constituent college of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology, principal Ndirangu Kioni, told the Press classes were expected to go on as normal as a result of the meeting held in the morning.

He noted that the college had just effected the double intake and schedules were tight.

But at the Kenyatta University Nyeri Campus, classes were affected.

By Ronnel Onchagwa, Leonard Mutinda, Ouma Wanzala, Justus Wanga, Anthony Kitimo, By Timothy Kimei, George Sayagie, James Kariuki and Charles Mwaniki