Lecturers' strike: Deadlock as universities, gov't fail to agree 23 days later

The lecturers' strike has paralyzed learning across all 35 public universities and two constituent colleges for 23 days since it started.

Despite the government agreeing to release Ksh.4.3 billion, which was initially accepted by lecturers, the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga quickly changed position.

Wasonga says the strike will only end when the government explains how the remaining Ksh.5.4 billion, as outlined in the return-to-work formula, will be paid.

However, efforts to resolve the impasse seemed to bear fruit on Thursday morning after UASU officials met with the National Assembly's Education Committee, following the government's agreement to allocate Ksh.4.3 billion in an attempt to break the deadlock.

"We will disburse the Ksh.4.3 billion, and later..." said State Department for Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala.

In his response, Wesonga said, “We have agreed to take 4.3."

However, the end of the stalemate lasted only a few minutes after the union changed its stance, maintaining that the nationwide strike would continue until the government clears the air on how the remaining Ksh.5.4 billion required to fully implement the return-to-work formula, which totals Ksh.9.7 billion, would be paid.

"The government must commit to paying the balance. Until then, the strike continues,” Wesonga said.

Frustration among students and parents is growing as they urge both sides to resolve their differences and end the strike.

"We just want to go back to class. This has gone on for too long,” said a University student.

Pressure is mounting on both the government and UASU to find a lasting solution, even as the inter-ministerial committee meeting scheduled for Thursday afternoon failed to take off.