KU orders students back to class as confusion surrounds lecturers’ strike

Kenyatta University’s Hildah Otieno demonstates with other lecturers on the street of Nairobi on 18th April 2018. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Kenyatta University has directed students to report back tomorrow amid confusion over lecturers’ strike.

A statement signed by Vice-Chancellor Paul Wainaina said lectures for the second semester of 2017, 2018 academic year will resume immediately.

Prof Wainaina said the decision to continue with teaching and learning was reached following the order by the Industrial and Labour Relations Court that declared the varsities union’s strike unlawful and unprotected.

He said workers have individually committed to obey the court order and resume duties.

“Further, the University management wishes to inform all the students and other stakeholders that all the necessary arrangement to ensure that academic programmes and activities take place without interruption have been put in place. Already, teaching and learning has been going on smoothly in a number of schools and campuses,” said the VC in a statement.

Learning was paralysed in 31 public universities across the country since March 1 after lectures went on strike to demand pay increment.

The strike which has affected more than 600,000 students was called by the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu).

The teaching staff downed their tools to push universities and the government to implement the 2017-2021 CBA.