Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has urged the government and lecturers to resolve the ongoing strike that has paralysed learning in universities.
to hasten talks as the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) strike continues.
Omtatah through his X account termed the ongoing strike as a matter that has reached a critical point, as students across public universities in the country.
Omtatah noted that the students remain the hardest hit as the ongoing strike continues to disrupt academic activities taking a toll on them mentally and emotionally.
“The students, unfortunately, remain the most affected by this deadlock. Many are confined to campuses with no access to classes, food, or essential support, leaving them vulnerable and frustrated,” Omtatah said.
“This prolonged inactivity is not only detrimental to their academic progress but also to their mental and emotional well-being,” Omtatah warned.
He called on both the striking lecturers and the government to prioritise the needs of the students and the future of the nation by engaging in collaborative dialogue with urgency and sincerity to resolve the underlying issues and restore normalcy to the universities.
He said the government has been inconsistent in its responses to the lectures’ demands noting that the strike has created a difficult and uncertain environment for all stakeholders.
“The Kenya Kwanza government’s inconsistent response shifting between engagement and inaction has only deepened the crisis, prolonging the impasse and exacerbating its negative effects,” he added.
He raised concern that the inactivity could derail students’ academic aspirations and hinder their long-term potential.
“We call on all parties involved to act swiftly and responsibly to bring an end to this crisis and ensure that comrades can resume their education in a stable and supportive environment.”
The lecturers’ strike which has entered its fourth week continues to paralyse learning in public universities.
The strike was called by the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) after the government failed to honour a Return-To-Work Formula (RTWF) negotiated on September 26, 2024.
The lecturers were to get a salary increment of between seven per cent and 10 per cent as part of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), but the government has only signed for 4.5 per cent which is yet to be disbursed.
This is the second lecturers’ strike in two months following one that was suspended on September 26.
by EKISA ZABLON
