ELDORET — The standoff between the government and university lecturers has taken a sharper turn, with the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) warning that threats of dismissal will not force dons back to the classroom.
UASU Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga said lecturers were prepared to stand their ground in pursuit of better pay and improved working conditions, dismissing attempts to intimidate them through threats of job losses.
Speaking during a press briefing, Wasonga said university lecturers had professional skills that could attract opportunities beyond Kenya.
“You can not joke with people who have gone to school. Ati, you are scaring us with sacking. Dons can teach anywhere in the world, don’t scare us, and we are very few. Unacheza na sisi.”
His remarks come as the lecturers’ strike continues to disrupt academic activities in public universities, leaving thousands of students facing uncertainty over classes, examinations, and academic programmes.
The dispute has brought renewed attention to the long-running question of remuneration and working conditions in Kenya’s public universities. Lecturers’ unions have repeatedly raised concerns over salaries, implementation of collective bargaining agreements, and the general welfare of academic staff.
For students, however, the industrial action has translated into disruptions to the academic calendar. Some learners have been forced to remain away from lecture halls, while others face uncertainty over examinations and the completion of scheduled coursework.
The government has maintained its position on the dispute, including warnings over the consequences of participating in an unprotected or prolonged strike. The union, however, has continued to insist that lecturers’ grievances must be addressed through negotiations rather than threats.
Wasonga’s latest comments underline the widening gap between the two sides, with UASU insisting that dismissal threats will not resolve the underlying issues.
The union argues that the government should instead return to the negotiating table and address the concerns raised by academic staff.
The dispute now places pressure on both sides to find common ground, with students and universities bearing the immediate effects of the prolonged industrial action.
As the impasse continues, attention is likely to remain focused on whether negotiations can produce an agreement capable of ending the strike and restoring normal learning in public universities.