Lecturers give Education CS 24-hour ultimatum as strike enters fourth week

Learning in public universities remained paralyzed on Monday as the lecturers’ strike entered its fourth week across the country.

The dons have vowed to extend the industrial action despite assurances by both Treasury and Education cabinet secretaries, that the required funds needed for salaries increase and recruitment of additional academic staff have been committed.

Students from the University of Nairobi who have endured a month now without learning owing to the lecturers' strike joined demonstrations organized by their tutors.

The procession kicked off at the UON Graduation square Monday morning and headed straight to Nairobi's CBD before making a stop-over at Parliament buildings.

“We are demanding a full implementation of the return-to-work formula that amounts to Ksh.9.7 billion,” Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) secretary-general Constantine Wasonga said.

Grace Nyongesa, the UASU chairperson added: “None of the items has been implemented and we are a very disappointed lot. We are telling the government to honour the return to work formula.”

The protesting dons who also visited the Treasury building demanded Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi settle their arrears without further delay.

The demonstrators eventually ended up at the Ministry of Education's Jogoo House.

Here, the striking lecturers gave Education CS Julius Migos a 24-hour ultimatum to fully implement the return-to-work formula as contained in the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Even as the industrial action by lecturers continues in public universities, students who have opted to stay in the learning institutions remain without a way forward with their academic calendar disrupted.