Kisii University staff go on strike over CBA

Kisii University staff has gone on strike over alleged failure by the institution to implement a collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Vice Chancellor John Akama, yesterday addressed the employees and called for calm.

He also cited reduced allocations, much less than what public universities were receiving from the government previously.

Prof Akama said it was no longer tenable for the university to spend without proper budgeting.

"We must be prudent in the use of resources. Almost all public Universities will now be forced to look for alternative means of getting money," said Akama.

The University’s teaching and non-teaching staff unions have delivered statements outlining their members' frustrations to the University management.

Akama retaliated strongly by saying no staff will be spared once found guilty of misconduct. "We have records of those shouting that certain senior staff must go. Some of them have on several instances been reporting to work late, absconding duty and worse still, reporting while drunk.”

In a statement signed by Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu) Kisii branch Secretary Moses Nyandusi, the union wants the acting Registrar for Administration transferred for violation of labour laws.

The Registrar, Rose Ogata, is accused of misinterpreting the CBA, the Employment Act and the Human Resource Manual.

"She must be replaced immediately by a qualified person with leaderships skills," said Nyandusi.

The union wants the implementation of the CBA 2013-2017.

According to Akama, all staff will be reviewed in line with the University's policy.

“This is a legitimate issue and there is no doubt majority of our staff are qualified for promotion.”

Last year, public Universities protested against the Government's decision to reduce their funding by Sh1 billion.