UoN Lectures Threatens To Strike Days After Reopening

University of Nairobi (UoN) lectures from the College of Health Sciences have threatened to go on strike following a dispute over allowances, spelling more trouble for institutions just days after reopening.

University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) secretary-general Constantine Wasonga say due to the unresponsiveness of University management and failure to pay the clinical allowances, the academic staff, launch this strike to fight for their dignity

“The consequences of the strike is that unless the clinical allowances are reinstated, the UON shall not graduate medical doctors, pharmacists and nurse this year” read the statement

The Union issued a seven-day strike notice to the UoN management a month ago. The action follows a decision by the university management to withdraw clinical allowance arguing that some medical lectures had abandoned their work at the Kenyatta National Hospital for their private clinics.

According to Wasonga, staff in other universities are receiving their clinical allowances without facing similar obstacles.

He added that funding required for the clinical allowances was disbursed by the National Treasury in July to the campus. As such, no additional funding is required. According to him, USAU had given the campus numerous chances to resolve the dispute through dialogue with limited access.

The union is demanding for the immediate and unconditionally reinstatement of the allowances whose payment it claimed was stopped unilaterally by the university in breach of employment and labor laws.

The USAU however claimed that the list is erroneous and contains the names of some persons who are either deceased or retired while excluding those who are currently in active service.

The Union said the omission mainly affected its members offering psychiatry and psychological services in other facilities such as Mathare Teaching and Referral Hospital other than KNH

The majority of the academic staff at the College of Health Sciences had not been paid their allowances as of yesterday. The few that had been paid claimed the amount had been reduced.

Wasonga says the strike would have far-reaching effects because the country is in the middle of a pandemic and will also derail the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage Agenda as envisaged.

Though a statement by CS Magoha, he said all final year students should report back to school as part of the progressive re-opening of education institutions.

He added that the respective University Councils and their Senates will announce the date for resumption of in-person learning for students in other academic classes.