Lecturers In Kenya Defy Court, Pickets Non Payment of Salary Arrears

Lecturers and non-teaching staff at six public universities in Kenya, defied a court order and held demonstrations to demand full salary and remittance of statutory deductions.

The marches could disrupt learning and other activities even as First Year students started reporting last week.

Continuing students have also begun reporting for the new academic year.

The workers accuse university managers of underpaying them and failing to comply with a January 15 court order.

Lecturers and non-teaching staff at Multimedia University (MMU) and Technical University of Kenya (TUK) held demonstrations at their institutions.

MMU was shut indefinitely Wednesday with the Institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Festus Kaberia, directing students to vacate the university premises by 6pm.

In a notice, Kaberia said Staff went on strike from September 13, paralysing learning and general operations of the university.

The VC added that the strike led to demonstrations by students, who attempted to block traffic on Magadi Road.

University Academic Staff Union (UASU) MMU Chapter Secretary Onesmus Maluki Mutio, who is also the national organising secretary, said workers have not been getting the pay they were awarded in the collective bargaining agreement.

Local media learnt that staff from other universities are also planning similar demonstrations while others are in talks with management.

In the meantime, UASU Secretary-General, Constantine Wasonga has defended the picketing and denied reports that the workers defied a directive stopping the nationwide strike that was to take place last month.

He added that universities have not been remitting workers’ deductions to medical insurance firms, saccos, the Kenya Revenue Authority, NHIF, NSSF, loans, pension and others.

Dr Wasonga said universities have not implemented the 2017-21 pay deal.

Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) Organising Secretary, Ernest Wayaya, however says the workers would resume duty only after getting all their dues.