The ongoing strike by university lecturers has left students stranded at home, with no resolution in sight. A recent attempt to resolve the impasse failed once again when a meeting convened by the National Assembly Committee on Education was abruptly called off. The meeting was intended to discuss the strike and assess the government’s commitment to investing Ksh. 4.3 billion to reopen universities and facilitate the return of students to class. However, the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) failed to provide the required documents to prove that the government was prepared to make the necessary financial commitment.
Fred Simiyu Baraza, the Chairman of the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), revealed that the council had managed to secure Ksh. 1.6 billion as part of an attempt to resolve the ongoing strike by university lecturers. This amount was offered as part of efforts to meet the financial requirements needed to implement the “Back to Work” formula, a proposal aimed at ending the deadlock and reopening universities. However, the lecturers’ unions rejected the Ksh. 1.6 billion, arguing that it was insufficient to meet their demands. The unions are insisting on a larger sum of Ksh. 9.6 billion, which they argue is necessary to fully implement the agreed-upon formula and address issues related to lecturers’ pay and working conditions.
“What we had available as a council was Ksh. 1.6 billion, but when UASU walked out on us, they went to the inter-ministerial committee, and that’s where the figure of Ksh. 4.3 billion was raised,” Baraza explained.
The committee, led by Chairman Julius Melly, was forced to summon three key Cabinet Secretaries to address the issue. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Magoha, Labour CS Alfred Mutua, and National Treasury CS John Mbadi have been asked to appear before the committee next week.
They are expected to provide detailed explanations on the government’s efforts to resolve the strike and outline concrete steps to bring lecturers back to work and ensure that students can resume their studies.
The prolonged strike has caused significant disruption to university education, leaving students with an uncertain academic future. With universities still closed and no clear resolution in sight, students are facing delays in their studies. The situation is further complicated by the failure of the government and the lecturers’ union to reach an agreement on key issues, including funding and lecturers’ pay.
Until the dispute is resolved, students will continue to remain at home, and the government faces mounting pressure to take decisive action to end the strike and restore normalcy to university education. The upcoming appearance of the Cabinet Secretaries is seen as a critical step in addressing the crisis.
