Kenya: Lecturers’ strike blights graduation for UoN medical students

Africa/Kenya/11-10-2020/Author and Source: www.kbc.co.ke

Medical doctors, pharmacists and nurses undertaking their studies at the University of Nairobi and who were set to be conferred with honours this year risk missing out following a lecturers’ strike which commenced Thursday.

Lecturers drawn from the College of Health Sciences and Kenyatta National Hospital campus through a statement claim they have resolved to strike due to failure by the employer to pay clinical allowances.

University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga says his members feel short-changed over what he says is a unilateral withdrawal of payment of the clinical allowances by the University in complete disregard of employment and labour laws.

“The consequence of the strike is that unless the clinical allowances are reinstated, the UoN shall not graduate medical doctors, pharmacists and nurses this year,” read the statement.

According to Wasonga, staff in other Universities are receiving their clinical allowances without facing similar obstacles.

“….funding required for the clinical allowances was disbursed by the National Treasury in July to the campus accounts. As such, no additional funding is required,” he added.

Wasonga says UASU had given the campus numerous chances to resolve the dispute through dialogue with limited success.

According to UASU, as of Thursday morning, pending allowances which were to be cleared a week from 15^th September 2020 have not been paid to the majority of the academic staff.

Wasonga saying the strike would have far-reaching effects because the country is in the middle of a pandemic and will also, derail the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage Agenda as envisaged.

This even as he maintained that his members will not be cowed by threats nor intimidations as they demand their rights.

Source and Image: https://www.kbc.co.ke/lecturers-strike-blights-graduation-for-uon-medical-students/