Lecturers to earn more perks in new pay deal

Officials of the universities staff (L-R) Muga K’olale, Ernest Wayaya and Dr Charles Mukawya addressing the press in the past. [PHOTO: STANDARD]

By Augustine Oduor and Rawlings Otieno

Nairobi, Kenya: Professors in public universities will now earn a basic pay of Sh211,753, in line with the new salary deal signed by the university staff unions and their employer.

This is a Sh16,000 increase from what they previously earned. Under the new arrangement, professors will also get a house allowance of Sh70,889.

Tutorial fellows and assistant lecturers will now earn Sh99,802, up from the Sh91,802 they earned the previous year. This will be in addition to a Sh49,623 house allowance.

A newly-employed lecturer at a public university will now earn up to Sh118,861 and a house allowance of Sh53,167.

These are some of the payment adjustments the Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu) and the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) managed to get after a seven-day strike that paralysed learning in public universities.

The return-to-work formula was signed by the Kusu, Uasu and the Kenya Union of Domestic Workers, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (Kudheiha).

The deal also indicated that the employees’ pension contribution shall be computed from the Sh7.8 billion negotiated under the 2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The agreement affirmed that only job groups 1 to 15 shall benefit from the salary deal.

The salary schedules prepared by the joint teams guarantee a 10 per cent salary raise and a similar per centage increase in house allowance.

Senior lecturers will now earn up to Sh135,243 and a house allowance of Sh56,711. This is Sh10,641 more than what they earned the previous year.

According to the deal, an associate professor will now earn a basic pay of Sh172,960 and an additional Sh63,800 in house allowance.

University staff workers such as administrators, senior administrators and assistant registrars have also benefited from the pay deal that Education Cabinet Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi said must be paid by May 30.

No victimisation

Kusu members who fall under grade A, which is the lowest, will now earn Sh17,741, up from Sh16,345 they earned the previous year. Workers in this job group will also earn a house allowance of Sh17,013.

Workers in grade F will now earn Sh51,777 and a house allowance of Sh34,027. Assistant registrars will now have their pay raised to Sh104,067 and a house allowance of Sh53,167.

Deputy registrars will also have their basic pay raised up to Sh148,259 and a house allowance of Sh60,256.

Senior assistant registrars will take home a salary of up to Sh118,256 and a house allowance of Sh56,711.

Vice chancellors and the university staff unions agreed that there shall be no victimisation of any workers who participated in the strike.

Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi urged the two parties to solve their disputes through dialogue and not industrial action to avoid wastage of time and resources.

He exhorted the parties to adhere to the tenets of tripartite dialogue and respect for management, trade unions, and government consultations in resolving industrial disputes.

Prof Kaimenyi defended the VCs saying the money was diverted to help in construction of facilities in various universities.

He cautioned the VCs against using the money meant for staff on other development projects at their universities.

“There shall be no victimisation of either party. The VCs, though they misdirected the funds to development of facilities at the universities, used it for a good cause. The VCs should therefore make sure that CBAs are honoured and implemented,” said Kaimenyi.

Kusu Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya cautioned the VCs against abuse of office and impunity in handling workers, adding that their actions should be above board to reflect the responsibility they bear.