Lecturers' strike continues as state fails to produce proof of Sh4.3 billion funding

Efforts to resolve the protracted lecturers' strike that has paralysed learning in public universities were once again thwarted on Tuesday as a National Assembly committee adjourned talks over the lack of documented proof for a promised Sh4.3 billion payout.

Members of Parliament in the Education Committee voiced their frustration at the Inter-Public Universities Councils' Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), which for the second time failed to present evidence of the funding from the government, sparking heated debate and raising doubts about the state's commitment to ending the strike.

The committee, led by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, was set to deliberate on the lecturers' demands and the government's response in hopes of ending the strike that has kept students out of classrooms for weeks.

However, after IPUCCF officials, including Chairman Prof. Fred Simiyu Barasa and Secretary Prof. Daniel Mugendi, failed to produce any financial commitment from the Treasury.

Melly adjourned the meeting and summoned Cabinet Secretaries for Education, Labour and National Treasury to provide concrete answers in the coming week.

"We cannot proceed without proper representation from the ministries that are key in providing the funding commitment," said Melly.

"The absence of a formal guarantee from the government only prolongs the stalemate, and we are now compelled to bring in top officials who can make binding statements on the matter."

Unfulfilled government promise

The committee's frustration stemmed from an unfulfilled government promise to allocate Sh4.3 billion toward a return-to-work formula, which the IPUCCF proposed as a compromise to address the lecturers' demands.

However, Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera and other members argued that continuing discussions without documented evidence would be futile.

"Any government agency negotiating on financial commitments must have prior approval, which cannot be verbal," Nabwera asserted.

The lecturers, represented by the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), have been on strike since October 29, 2024, following the government's failure to implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in 2019.

The union, led by Secretary-General Dr Constantine Wasonga, insists that Sh9.7 billion is required to fully meet the lecturers' demands.

UASU National Secretary General Dr Constantine Wesonga second (right), joins lecturers during their strike in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County on August 29, 2024. (Photo: Handout)

Addressing reporters after the adjourned meeting, Dr Wasonga said that lecturers would not resume work until their dues were honoured.

"A hungry lecturer can't teach. A demoralised lecturer can't teach," he stated, noting the need for financial stability to ensure a conducive learning environment.

In an attempt to resolve the dispute, the IPUCCF tabled a letter from Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala dated November 6, 2024, requesting Sh4.3 billion from the Treasury.

No Treasury response

However, this letter was not accompanied by any formal response from the Treasury, prompting doubts among the committee members about the government's commitment to releasing the funds.

Kibra MP Peter Orero voiced his disappointment at what he described as the government "taking the committee in circles."

"We cannot come here thrice talking about commitments from the Treasury without any proof," he said.

Prof. Barasa, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of Taita Taveta University, defended the IPUCCF, explaining that the forum did not have the authority to issue commitment letters and relied on the Education Ministry for such documentation.

"As an agency, IPUCCF does not issue commitment letters; we are under the Ministry of Education and do not have the document you are looking for," he explained.

Nevertheless, MPs remained sceptical, with Igembe North MP Julius Taitumu expressing frustration that the committee had been convened multiple times without meaningful progress.

"It's disrespectful to bring us here repeatedly without the necessary documents. If they don't have what we need, let's end this meeting. Why are they even here?" he questioned.

The strike has disrupted the academic calendar in public universities, and students have been left waiting for classes to resume.

UASU maintains that while the union would accept the Sh4.3 billion as a starting point, the remaining Sh5.4 billion must also be allocated in due course to fully implement the CBA.

The CBA negotiations initially stalled due to discrepancies in the proposed funding figures, with UASU's simulation pegging the total cost at Sh9.7 billion, while the IPUCCF placed it at Sh4.3 billion.

As the committee prepares to reconvene next week with National Treasury CS John Mbadi, Education CS Julius Migos, and Labor CS Alfred Mutua, there is hope that a resolution will be reached.

MPs are expected to press the Cabinet Secretaries to explain the lack of a formal commitment to the lecturers' payment and to offer a clear timeline for disbursing the Sh4.3 billion needed to bring the lecturers back to work.

In the meantime, UASU has urged lecturers to remain steadfast, with Dr. Wasonga denouncing what he termed as IPUCCF's "self-generated" CBA, which he claimed diverged from the original agreement negotiated with UASU.

"Our CBA is Sh9.7 billion and should not be mistaken. It's the basic salary only. Basic pay was a stop-gap measure. We're surprised IPUCCF developed their own CBA," Wasonga said, reinforcing the union's position to continue the strike until the government commits to the full terms.