MPs summon Mbadi over state’s Sh4.3bn offer to lecturers

MPs have faulted the government for failing to table evidence of the Sh4.3 billion it promised lecturers as part of the state offer to end the month-long industrial action.

Members of the National Assembly’s Education Committee heard that the government through the Labour PS Shadrack Mwadime, offered the billions on September 28, but to date, the same has not been done in writing.

The committee chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly now wants National Treasury CS John Mbadi to appear before it to explain why government is dragging feet on the offer billed as the solution to the ongoing strike.

“On Tuesday next week, we shall have here CSs for National Treasury, Labour and Education to explain this issue,” Melly said.

University staff are on strike over non-implementation of the return-to-work-formula in the matter of the 2021-25 CBA.

The offer was made during an inter-ministerial committee meeting bringing together University Academic Staff Union, Kenya University Staff Union and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Education Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers Union.

The meeting was chaired by Labour PS Shadrack Mwadime and was also having Inter Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum as member.

Of concern to the committee is why the government has refused to make a commitment in writing to avert the ongoing strike that has paralysed learning all the public universities.

“Sh4.3 billion is not pocket money, it cannot be communicated verbally, what we are asking for is a letter committing the government to this offer,” Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara said.

Kibra MP Peter Orero said it was unfortunate that the government has resorted to taking the committee in circles as students continue to remain at home.

“We cannot come here thrice talking about commitments from the Treasury, you keep a whole committee here,” Orero said.

“The issue here is that you are unable to get us the document,” added Nyamira Woman Representative Jerusha Momanyi.

The committee was meeting IPUCCF chairman Prof Fred Simiyu who is also the Vice Chancellor at Taita Taveta University. Uasu also attended the meeting that ended prematurely after it merged that IPUCCF had not submitted commitment letter.

Simuyu was leading the negotiation with the three unions before the matter was escalated to the inter university committee following a deadlock that led to the three lobbies walking out of negotiations.

Yesterday, Simiyu tabled before the committee a letter from Higher Education PS Beatrice Inyagangala asking the Treasury to commit to the Sh4.3 billion to end the strike.

“During negotiations for the return-to-work formula, the Treasury was successfully engaged on the requirement of Sh4.3 billion to implement the 2021 – 2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement,” the letter dated November 6 reads.

“The purpose of this letter therefore is to request the Treasury for a commitment letter on the Sh4.3 billion for implementation of the 2021 – 2025 CBA.”

The Inyangala’s letter was not however responded to. Uasu secretary general Constantine Wesonga has maintained the offer is hearsay and the industrial action will continue until the government commits to the offer.