We are now merely beggars Teachers protest pay delays.
At least seven public university lecturers are furious over salary delays, claiming that these have forced them to rely on Fuliza and Shylock loans to survive.
The leadership of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) said at a joint press conference held at the main campus of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Juja, Kiambu County, that members will begin picketing on Monday in protest of the pay delays.
Teachers are unable to
The officials, led by Dr. Shadrack Muya, Secretary General of the JKUAT Chapter, declared that they could no longer put up with the salary delays, which they claim are making members become beggars.
“It is quite concerning that as of May 17, 2024, our members have not been paid for the month of April, even though they have performed their jobs and fulfilled their contractual obligations.
“This is blatantly against the Employment Act 2007 and the 2010 Kenyan Constitution,” Dr. Muya declared on behalf of the seven universities involved.
The unionists claimed that lecturers have suffered greatly as a result of the wage payment delay, making it more difficult for them to fulfill their financial responsibilities, which include paying for school tuition, home payments, and standing orders.
Many of us have thus been compelled to turn to loans from shylocks, Fuliza, and Mswari in order to survive. This is tantamount to degrading and embarrassing our members.”
Timona Soita, Treasurer of the JKUAT Chapter of UASU The Union, asked, “Imagine a whole professor facing the closure of his rental house for non-payment of rent or begging a school principal not to send home his child over fees arrears.”
JKUAT Chapter Chairman Muiga Rugara voiced similar views, accusing the administration and government of neglecting their responsibilities and perhaps bringing down public higher education institutions.
Institutions impacted
Other universities that are impacted include Masinde Muliro University of Technology, Moi University, Kenyatta University, and the Technical University of Kenya.
The dons claim that access to medical care and other crucial services linked to statutory payments have been hampered by the pay delays.
They also promised to picket every month beginning on the fifth day of the next month if the previous month’s salary were not paid.
We are now merely beggars Teachers protest pay delays.
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