Members of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) at Maasai Mara University on Monday marched along the Mulot-Narok Town Highway in a protest to push the government to increase their salaries.
Hundreds of university teaching and non-teaching staff chanted solidarity slogans as they carried their union banners and vuvuzelas along the busy highway.
Led by their Secretary Generals, the staff vowed not to relent in their demand for salary increments, wondering why other government employees had received increments leaving them behind.
The branch UASU Secretary General Boniface Salambo put on notice any don who continued with teaching, either physically or online, that would be named and shamed as traitors.
“If you find a lecturer teaching physically or online, please take a photo, and we will shame him or her on our platforms. We want to walk as one so that our voices can be heard,” he said.
Salambo said the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) 2021-2025 should be negotiated to allow increments in their basic pay and allowances.
The staff also calls for the harmonisation of allowances across the country, vowing not to return to work until their demands are fully met.
Salambo asked his members not to shy away from the demonstrations, which he said would be daily until a deal is struck.
He said the cost of living had hiked for every Kenyan; hence, every worker should be treated equally by getting a fair salary increment.
His Kusu counterpart, Galfen Omuse, said they decided to join their colleagues countrywide because they wanted the welfare of the university staff addressed accordingly.
Omuse said despite their national leaders pushing their leaders on the top level, nothing has been forthcoming, hence the reason they resolved to down their tools.
“Maybe the only language the government listens to is a strike. We will not report to our daily duties until our demands are met,” he said.
SG Salambo said the strike entails reporting at the university at the usual reporting time but abstaining from doing any business.
“Kindly be warned that those who fail to report to the university could be issued with a disciplinary letter, which we will not be part of. I advise you to report as usual but do not work,” he said.