The Employment and Labour Relations Court on Wednesday issued orders directing lecturers, currently on strike to pick up back their tools and head back to class.
Earlier in the day, lecturers from across various institutions in the country downed their tools after talks with the government flopped. The strike would have paralyzed learning at institutions of higher learning for the foreseeable future.
Justice Jacob Gakeri issued the ruling after the Inter-Public Universities’ Councils Forum sought legal redress seeking to have the strike stopped.
While delivering his ruling, Justice Gakeri certified the matter as urgent and directed the parties to continue negotiating to resolve the contested matters.
A Court gavel used to command order during proceedings.
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Handout
The University Unions and the Ministry of Education were given seven days to respond to the application. The matter will be mentioned on October 2 for further directions.
Lecturers under the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) took to the streets after the government failed to honor a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) after filing a strike notice on September 11.
After the notice period lapsed, the lecturers took to the streets on Wednesday which disrupted learning activities at most universities across Kenya.
Speaking on Tuesday after meeting UASU and KUSU officials, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba revealed the government acknowledged the lecturers’ concerns and promised that the government was working to ensure all their demands were met.
“We acknowledged their concerns and noted progress made. The Government is committed to finding sustainable solutions. We urged them to call off the strike”, the CS said.
Some of the issues that the lecturers want to be addressed include; access to medical cover, the conclusion of a local Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), annual salary increments, and staff promotions.
They also want the government to address staff placement to appropriate notches, and the improvement of poor working conditions.
Speaking during the launch of the strike at the Technical University of Kenya in Nairobi, Uasu and Kusu leaders revealed that they are vital stakeholders in Ruto’s broad-based government, and their voices must be heard.
Uasu officials, led by Secretary General Constantine Wasonga, during a media briefing on October 7, 2022.
NMG
