Police clash with university lecturers as students threaten to join demo

Police officer carries a sack of teargas along Moi Avenue. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Chaos erupted in the streets of Nairobi's Central Business District as university lecturers took to the streets, clashing with police in a protest that saw several dons arrested.

What began as a peaceful march quickly degenerated into a dramatic confrontation, leaving academic staff, students, and the public grasping for breath. 

In the early hours of Monday, lecturers gathered at the University of Nairobi's Graduation Square, voicing their frustrations over the government's failure to implement their long-negotiated 2021-25 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary General, Constantine Wasonga, speaking on behalf of the demonstrators, said the struggle was far from over, despite the arrest of seven lecturers.

“The fight has just begun. No matter what; no matter how long it takes. You will not suppress the right of dons in this country. We will not allow this to happen. This is the journey we have begun, and we will not be cowed," he declared.

Speaking at Central Police Station after the release of the seven, Wasonga vowed to sustain a fierce fight, expressing disappointment about government's mistreatment of lecturers.

“I think it is an attack on higher education and its core values. It is sad that this is just one of many battles lecturers are getting caught up in. We shall win as academic staff and university staff our rights will not be trampled on” Wasonga said.

Justice Jacob Gakeri of the Employment and Labour Relations Court had previously issued an order halting the strike after the lecturers filed notice of their intent.

In his ruling, Gakeri instructed both sides to engage in peaceful negotiations. "It is hereby ordered that the parties continue negotiating with a view to resolving the disputed issues consensually," ruled the judge. 

Yet, despite this ruling, lecturers took to the streets, insisting they had no other option.

Wasonga accused universities of failing to implement policies such as the retirement age for dons, which should be set at 74.

“Retirement age is determined by policy. I tell the Education Cabinet Secretary, you cannot purport to negotiate the CBA through letters,” he said.

The stand-off comes amid rising concern among the university students who have threatened to go to the streets to protest and demand for learning.

Raphael Oguk, Secretary General of Technical University of Kenya (TUK), said, as the lecturers protest, learning has ground to a halt.

"We need to go back to class. For the last two weeks, we have not been in class, although we have paid fees. We demand the government to speed up negotiations," said Oguk.

He reiterated that with three weeks gone since the start of the semester, many students are questioning their future.

A shared sentiment by Renny Osoti, Secretary General of Multimedia University who wants lecturers’ demands should be met swiftly to avoid further disruption.

“We are demanding education, which is our right. The government and the lecturers must come to an agreement so we can start learning. Our concerns are that no university will extend the semester because of the wasted days,” said Osoti.