By STANDARD TEAM

Operations in public universities were paralysed after employees went on strike to demand higher pay.

University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) Secretary General Mutuura Mberia led lecturers and members of University Non-Teaching Staff Union (Untesu) and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels and Educational Institutions and Hospitals Association (Kudheiha) in downing their tools, leaving students who reported for registration stranded.

Addressing 1,900 striking Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) workers, Mberia and his Untesu counterpart Nickson Chege accused vice chancellors and the Government of trying to stop the strike through propaganda.

The unions want the Government to resume the stalled 2010-2012 Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations.

They, however, vowed not to be intimidated and instead pledged to stay put until their demands are met.

Vice Chancellor, Prof Mabel Imbuga, addressed the workers and asked them to allow dialogue, saying the Inter-Universities Consultative Forum had given a counter proposal.

But Mberia and Untesu chairman James Makori denied the assertion, saying the Government had only proposed to increase VCs’ salaries from June 6.

At Egerton University, Nakuru, the induction of first year students yesterday failed to take off following the strike.

The students spent the day idling as the defiant workers vowed to continue with the strike.

“If the Government has failed to implement the 2010-12 CBA when are we going to negotiate for 2012-2014 agreement,” posed Untesu national organising secretary Ernest Wayaya. 

Wayaya accused the Ministry of Higher Education of ignoring a directive by President Kibaki to expedite the discussions.

new students stranded

“While at Masinde Muliro University in November, last year, the President directed the ministry to expedite the issue of workers,” the unionist said. Uasu Nyeri chapter Secretary General Daniel Mwai noted that members would no longer wait for proposals from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

“The Government has not honoured its promises and it instead walked out of our negotiations,” said Mr Mwai at Kimathi University.

He said after signing the return-to-work formula last year, the Government simply walked out of the negotiations.

Students stayed away as no learning was taking place.

Maseno University lecturers were in campus but did not step inside lecture halls and vowed to stay out until the salary woes are promptly resolved. Bondo University College teaching staff also went on strike.

“It is high time the Salaries and Remuneration Commission looks into our plight so that we are motivated in building our beloved country,” said Constantine Wesonga.

According to public relations manager George Ojwondo, the strike came when they were orientating new students.

“We were just inducting new students who reported last week but learning is set to officially begin next week,” said Ojwondo.

Masinde Muliro University Uasu and Untesu members said they are demanding for harmonisation of their salaries with civil servants.

“We are going to paralyse activities at the institution until the money is released. The two unions will not sit anywhere to negotiate, we want figures,” said Untesu secretary Kennedy Ochieng.

Reports by Mary Kamande, Karanja Njoroge,  Marion Ndungu ,  Kepher Otieno and Grace  Wekesa.