University of Eldoret Dons Vow to Continue Strike Amid Ongoing Protests

Lecturers at the University of Eldoret have vowed to continue their strike and protests, insisting that the government fully implements the terms outlined in the recently signed return-to-work formula. Led by the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) branch officials, the dons have made it clear that they will not resume work until their demands, particularly regarding salary adjustments and other benefits, are met.

The strike, which has seen lecturers engage in daily demonstrations, comes after frustrations grew over the government’s failure to fulfill its commitments, as stipulated in the agreement. The lecturers are demanding an annual pay rise of 4 percent, in line with the negotiated return-to-work formula. However, according to the union officials, this amount is still grossly inadequate considering the underpayment of the academic staff at Kenyan universities.

Branch Secretary Phillip Chebunet, speaking during the protests, emphasized that the lecturers would not back down, despite efforts by university management to intimidate or coerce them into returning to work. “We know some universities are already threatening UASU members, but that will not cause us to give up. We will strike until the money we want is in the banks,” Chebunet declared firmly.

The union is demanding that the government fully honor the agreement made last year, which includes a pay increase that reflects the increasing cost of living and the heavy responsibilities of university lecturers. “The government must act decisively during the inter-ministerial meeting scheduled for Thursday. We expect the meeting to address all our grievances comprehensively, so we can return to work,” Chebunet said.

Nyaberi Mogaka, the UASU Eldoret branch chairman, also spoke out, stressing that while the 4 percent annual pay rise was a part of the negotiated return-to-work formula, it was insufficient given the years of underpayment that had burdened the academic staff. “We cannot resume work under these conditions. We are asking parents to take back their children because no learning is going on here. There is no reason to stay enrolled in a university where no classes are being held,” Nyaberi said.

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The strike has already disrupted normal operations at the University of Eldoret, with students caught in the middle of the standoff. Many students have expressed concerns about the indefinite closure of the university, but they have also expressed support for the lecturers’ demands for better pay. Some students, frustrated by the prolonged strike, have called for a resolution to be reached so they can continue their studies.

In the broader context, the strike at the University of Eldoret is part of a larger trend of labor unrest in Kenyan public universities. At Moi University, the situation is equally dire. University workers, including lecturers, are demanding salary-related arrears of over KSh 10 billion before they can resume their duties. The university has been shut down for nearly a month as workers continue to strike, further compounding the crisis in the country’s higher education sector.

The Ministry of Labour has attempted to mediate between the university management and UASU officials. An emergency meeting was called in Nairobi to address the situation at Moi University, but as of now, no breakthrough has been achieved. Richard Okero, the UASU Moi University branch chairman, confirmed that the Ministry of Labour had summoned them to Nairobi. However, he made it clear that the university’s planned reopening tomorrow was not part of their plans until their demands for unpaid dues were met.

“We are not part of the plans to reopen the university because we have not been paid what is owed to us,” Okero explained. “Until that happens, the strike will continue.”

The ongoing strikes have cast a shadow over Kenya’s higher education system, as students’ academic progress is delayed, and the tension between university workers and management continues to escalate. There are growing calls for the government to urgently intervene and find a sustainable solution to the crisis that addresses the needs of university workers while ensuring that students can continue their education.

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As the strike continues, both at the University of Eldoret and Moi University, it is clear that the lecturers’ resolve remains strong. They are determined to continue their protests until they receive a fair resolution to their grievances. The government’s response to the upcoming inter-ministerial meeting could play a critical role in determining the future of the strike and the prospects for resolving the broader issues within Kenya’s public universities.

Until then, it seems that the stand-off will persist, with no immediate end in sight, leaving both students and lecturers waiting for the government to fulfill its promises.