The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) on Thursday, October 8, launched a strike at the University of Nairobi, College of Health Sciences, over the failure by the employer to pay clinical allowances to academic staff at the college, days after tertiary school reopening.
UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga told journalists that the objective of the strike was to ensure an immediate reinstatement of their clinical allowances.
"Academic staff condemn the unilateral withdrawal of payment of the clinical allowances by the University of Nairobi in complete disregard of employment and labour loss," Wasonga stated.
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The lecturers stated that the University would not produce graduates (medical doctors, nurse and pharmacists) this year if the management failed to meet their demands.
"This will have far-reaching effects in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, and will derail the universal healthcare coverage agenda of the current government," they stated.
The academic staff stated that the strike was due to the reckless move by the employer to withdraw the allowances.
In early September, the staff had issued a strike notice.
Wasonga stated that the lecturers were invited for a meeting by the conciliator and assured that their matter would be sorted, but a month later their demands were yet to be met.
The strike came days after University students resumed normal classes on October 5, 2020, following a directive issued by the Ministry of Education.
Meanwhile, Grade 4, Class 8 and Form 4 students are expected to resume learning on Monday, October 12, with KCPE examinations expected to start on March 22, 2021 and end on March 24, 2021.
KCSE exams are also scheduled to start on March 25, 2021 and end on April 16, 2021.
