Lecturers deny connection with NASA’s resistance arm

Lecturers have denied claims of a connection with NASA’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) as they vow not to go back to lecture halls until their demands are met.

Chairman of the Joint Negotiations Committee Prof. Joseph Mberia said the union was formed before the political party was established terming those claims as propaganda.

“I’m telling the government to stop propaganda that UASU is connected to NRM, our union was born earlier than the political parties,” said Prof. Mberia.

The dons called upon all institutions to take part in the strike since it is a collective grievance and the government wants to interfere with the Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA).

They said while they sympathise with students who are affected by the strike, the strike is still on.

University Academic Staff Union (UASU) secretary general Constantine Wesonga said the strike affects all the 31 public universities and no agreement has been reached with the Inter-Public Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF).

“We have not agreed on anything, the CBAs in most universities have not been implemented. As a union we are telling IPUCCF we will not  negotiate the 2017/2021 CBA if they do not pay arrears,” noted Wesonga.

Wesonga, who accused the government of being unaware of the number of staff in public universities, said they don’t trust varsity Vice Chancellors and are going to take petitions to Parliament and Ministry of Education.

“We have highlighted our issues and we hope the houses will listen and give us solutions,” added Wesonga.