University staff in salaries protest

By Mary Kamande

Nairobi, Kenya; Operations at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology were paralysed when workers staged a protest after the university failed to effect a pay increment they were awarded.

Members of the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu), University Non-Teaching Staff Union (Untesu), and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied workers congregated at the graduation pavilion.

Uasu Secretary General Mutuura Mberia and Untesu’s Nixon Chege said the Government had failed to honour the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed before they resumed work following their strike in September.

He threatened that the university workers would interrupt the examination schedule, if they would not have received the increment by then.

“If the workers will not have money in their pockets on Friday, they will block that office (the examination office),” he warned.

He added that the unions will disrupt University of Nairobi’s graduation ceremony scheduled for Friday if their demands are not met.

Senior officers

At the same time, Mberia blamed the Ministry of Higher Education for the delay, claiming that the money meant for them was banked into the accounts of senior officers in the ministry. He thus called on the Prime Minister to launch investigations to establish where the money was taken.

Meanwhile, the workers presented a Memorandum of Understanding to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mabel Imbuga, expressing their dissatisfaction.

Receiving the document, the VC urged the workers to go back to work as the management looked into their concerns.

She, however, said the university had not yet received money from the Government to enact the increment and would pay them as soon as the university receives the money.

November salary

“As soon as we get it, we will release it to you,” she promised, adding that the university will make a supplementary pay roll when the Government eventually releases the money.

The unions, however, resolved to stay put until their demands are met.

Earlier, Untesu’s secretary general Dr Mukhwaya had said the Government through the Treasury released half of Sh7.8 billion agreed to be effected in the workers’ November salary. “If Treasury released the money, we want it reflected in this month’s pay. Our members will take nothing less,” warned the official.

Higher Education Minister Prof Margaret Kamar said the Government had offered to pay the money in two phases of Sh3.9 billion starting next January and the balance paid by July the same year.