UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga has once again insisted that lecturers will not return to work until the 2017-2021 CBA is signed, implemented and money banked. Addressing the press on Monday in Nairobi, UASU boss Wasonga said IPUCCF (Inter Public Universities Consultative Council Forum) haven’t handled the issue responsibly as the strike enters 46 days, saying they haven’t presented a counteroffer, but a “charm” document that doesn’t respond to mandatory issues in a CBA.
He said it’s now clear to Kenyans the frustrations lecturers go through when negotiating with IPUCCF. “UASU members are extremely disappointed by the counteroffer and the action by IPUCCF has worsened the situation,” said Wasonga. The UASU boss said the union empathises with students who’ve been heavily affected by the strike, saying the government is to blame for the strike.
Moreover, he noted that there are some who want the higher education sector to collapse, “As a union, we won’t allow the collapse of public universities so that private universities can thrive. We have seen far, and we know there are some individuals who want the higher education sector to collapse so that, private universities can thrive,” he said.
On his part, KUSU (Kenya Universities Staff Union) boss Charles Mukhwaya said University education is on the brink of collapse if not checked well, “That’s why we are saying now perhaps it’s the hand of the President that will help,” he said, “For the last 46 days learning operations in the Universities are not going on and they are seated on their laurels as government.” He said leaders should scrutinize how the world is looking at Kenyans in the ongoing impasse.
