Sack all VCs over stalemate on pay increase, unions demand

By Michael Ollinga, Jally Kihara and Stanley Mwahanga

Kenya: University staff unions now want all vice chancellors (VCs) to be sacked over stalemate on pay increase.

The University Academic Staff Union (Uasu), Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu) and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotel, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, and Allied Workers (Kudheiha) leaders said VCs should not be in office because they have delayed to pay their dues.

Uasu National Organising Secretary Musalia Edebe said it was absurd for VCs to fail to channel money released by the Government last July to their employees’ accounts.

“The Government, through the ministry of Education, should establish the root cause of such laxity,” he said.

Edebe said the Government should not allow to be tainted by VCs.

He claimed that the VCs prompted them to carry an audit on management of universities, which unraveled that over Sh2.2 billion meant for the fulfillment of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) had been diverted to unknown expenditure.

The government in 2010 signed a CBA with the university staff and agreed to allocate Sh7.9 billion to be paid in two installments with the first phase of Sh3.9 having been effected.

The balance was channeled to the VCs last July but has not been disbursed to the striking staff.

“We cannot continue working with people who have subjected the staff to suffering by retaining their money without a substantial reason,” he added.

Edebe said Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi should not remain silent on the stalemate.

Jimmy Kairu, secretary general Uasu, University of Eldoret Chapter, accused VCs of looking down upon their staff by denying them access to their hard-earned payment.

 “The VCs have paralysed learning in our institutions. They should release our money as soon as possible to prevent the situation from getting out of hand,” he added.

Kusu treasurer Christine Mwakera said they will not beg for what was rightfully theirs and called on the VCs to solve the issues in a humane way.

Uasu Secretary General, Moi University Chapter, Jack Abok dismissed claims that the current strike was politically motivated to destabilise the government, saying that they were ready to return back to work as long as the VCs release their cash.

The unions’ leaders disclosed that they were deliberating on forming one umbrella union with more clout to fight for their rights.

And learning at public universities was paralysed Thursday for the second day as striking workers continued to press for their pay.

At Egerton University’s main campus, Uasu and Kusu members assembled at the institution’s administration block singing solidarity songs as they vowed not to relent in their push until the Sh3.9 billion is released.

The striking workers blamed VCs for the current crisis claiming that it is the management which diverted money meant for the workers to other areas.

According to Dr Robert Shivairo, Uasu chairman, Egerton University chapter, the VCs diverted money meant for them to other dubious areas which has resulted the current strike.

And striking staff at the Technical University of Mombasa (Tum) declared they will not report to their work station at all from today.

Uasu chairman, Tum chapter, Joseph Ngari said all the workers from both Kusu and Uasu were taking a different approach to push for their demands.

The university remained deserted Thursday.