PS Inyangala criticises lecturer unions for not appreciating govt efforts to end strike
The Principal Secretary for the State Department of Higher Education and Research, Beatrice Inyangala, has criticised lecturer unions for what she described as a lack of appreciation for government efforts to resolve the ongoing lecturer strike.
Speaking during an interview on Tuesday, PS Inyangala said the government had “stretched the olive branch” to address longstanding disputes over salaries and Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
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This comes after the lecturers vow to sustain the strike over dishonesty in negotiations.
“All the issues we are dealing with are historical, stemming from the 2017–2022 CBA, but we are addressing them head-on,” she said.
“The current CBA for 2022–2025 was negotiated and fully settled. We also promised that future CBAs would be negotiated at the beginning of the cycle to ensure lecturers’ welfare is taken care of.”
She expressed surprise that lecturers went on strike even as discussions for the 2025 CBA were underway.
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“In the past, lecturers waited patiently for four years to negotiate CBAs at the end of the cycle. We feel that we stretched the olive branch, but the unions are really not appreciating it,” PS Inyangala said.
The ongoing strike, now approaching one month, has caused disruptions across universities nationwide. PS Inyangala noted that the dispute over salaries remains a key sticking point.
While lecturer representatives claim the government owes Ksh7.9 billion, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) estimates the amount at Ksh624 million.
“We have been engaging the lecturers and unions, and discussions to audit payrolls are ongoing to confirm the actual outstanding amount,” she said. By Tuesday, unions had acknowledged a figure of Ksh7.7 billion, though audits are still being finalised.
PS Inyangala emphasised that once the audit is complete, the government will agree on how to settle the outstanding amount.
“We are committed to co-creating solutions with the unions and resolving this strike permanently,” she added.
The PS called on lecturers to engage constructively and warned that the government remains determined to ensure continuity of academic programmes while safeguarding the welfare of staff.
The government has maintained that it is open to dialogue and will finalise payments once the audit confirms the actual amounts owed. Meanwhile, universities continue to face disruptions as negotiations proceed.
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William Muthama
William Muthama is a digital journalist with a focus on entertainment, human interest, and current affairs. Share stories: [email protected]/ [email protected]
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