The University of Eldoret (UoE) has officially joined the ongoing nationwide strike that has hit universities across Kenya. Over 800 lecturers and employees have downed their tools, vowing to paralyze learning until their demands for the implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) are met. The strike, which is part of a larger movement in Kenya’s higher education sector, highlights the frustration that academic staff have endured due to delayed CBA implementation and dissatisfaction with the new government funding model for universities.
The striking lecturers are led by the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) branch secretary Phillip Chebunet and Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) representative Robinson Korir. Both union leaders have called for immediate action, arguing that their patience has been exhausted after waiting for over two years for the 2021-2025 CBA to be honored by the government.
The Heart of the Matter: Unfulfilled Promises
At the core of the strike lies the failure to implement the 2021-2025 CBA, which was agreed upon by university staff and the government but has not been fully implemented. The CBA outlines pay increments, improved working conditions, and other critical benefits for university lecturers and staff. Despite ongoing negotiations and numerous pledges, university employees across the country, including at UoE, claim they have yet to see any substantial changes.
Phillip Chebunet, UASU’s branch secretary, voiced the concerns of UoE staff. “We will not accept to have our universities sink into problems because of poor policies by the government like the so-called new funding model,” he said. The lecturers argue that their demands go beyond just salary adjustments, as the lack of resources, inadequate support, and poor working conditions have eroded the quality of education in universities.
Chebunet’s comments reflect a widespread sentiment among academic professionals who feel that the government’s policies are contributing to the deteriorating state of higher education in the country. He accused university Vice-Chancellors of claiming that the new funding model is functioning well, but argued that the realities on the ground tell a different story. Many staff members believe that the funding model, which was designed to ensure better access to education for students, has done little to address the concerns of university workers.
The New Funding Model: Source of Discontent
The government’s new university funding model has become a significant point of contention for striking workers. The model, implemented earlier this year, aims to make university education more accessible by allocating more funds to institutions based on the number of students. However, critics argue that while the model might benefit students, it does not adequately address the financial needs of the institutions themselves, particularly when it comes to paying staff.
According to Chebunet, Vice-Chancellors are using the new funding model as an excuse to avoid addressing the pressing needs of university workers. “Vice-Chancellors claim the new funding model is working, so why are they not using the money to pay workers?” he asked. He emphasized that the UoE staff would not resume work until their demands are fully met.
Korir, representing KUSU, echoed these concerns, noting that the strike would continue until the university’s administration takes concrete steps to resolve the workers’ grievances. He said, “We will not sit back and allow learning to continue while our rights are being violated. We are ready to paralyze learning at the university until our demands are met.”
Impact on Learning and University Operations
The strike has far-reaching consequences for learning and overall university operations at UoE and other public universities across Kenya. The paralysis of academic activities threatens to disrupt the education of thousands of students who are in the middle of their academic calendar, with end-of-semester exams fast approaching. This disruption has created uncertainty about how long the strike will last and how the academic calendar will be affected.
The strike has also raised concerns about the long-term effects on the quality of higher education in Kenya. The continuous standoff between university staff and the government, exacerbated by financial constraints and inadequate support, may lead to more frequent disruptions, which could tarnish the reputation of Kenyan universities and lower the standards of education.
A Call for Dialogue and Resolution
As the strike continues, lecturers and university staff are calling for immediate intervention from the government and university administration to resolve the impasse. They argue that the current standoff is a result of poor management, inadequate funding, and a lack of genuine concern for the welfare of workers in higher education.
The unions are urging the government to take swift action to implement the 2021-2025 CBA and allocate sufficient resources to ensure that the new funding model works for both students and university staff. They insist that dialogue is the only way to find a lasting solution to the current crisis and prevent future disruptions in the education sector.
In the meantime, the strike at UoE and other universities across Kenya is likely to continue until both parties can agree on a way forward. The government will need to find a balance between funding education for students and ensuring fair compensation for the staff who are at the heart of the university system.
Conclusion
The University of Eldoret has joined the nationwide strike in the hope of forcing the government and university management to address the longstanding issues surrounding the 2021-2025 CBA. As the strike unfolds, the future of university education in Kenya hangs in the balance, with students and staff eagerly awaiting a resolution that satisfies all parties involved.
