UASA Bomet University College Chapter Urges CS Ogamba to Act, Faults SRC Over Delayed CBA Implementation

The Universities Academic Staff Association (UASA), Bomet University College Chapter, has called on Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to take firm control of his ministry and resist what it termed as “misleading and diversionary advice” from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) regarding the implementation of the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Speaking to journalists at the university on Tuesday, the chapter’s chairman, Dr. Sangura Ramari, accused the SRC of deceiving the Ministry of Education by claiming that university lecturers have already received the salary increments and arrears stipulated in the CBA.

“It is wrong for the SRC to claim that the 2017–2021 CBA has been fully paid. The truth is that many universities have not received the necessary funds. Those that tried to meet the obligations from their internal reserves are now struggling to remain operational,” said Dr. Sangura.

Accompanied by the chapter’s Organising Secretary, Dr. Mulalu, Dr. Sangura noted that some universities that attempted to honor parts of the CBA using their limited resources are now financially strained and unable to meet essential obligations such as staff promotions, research facilitation, and infrastructure maintenance.

He urged the government to reimburse the funds spent by such institutions to enable them to sustain their operations smoothly.

Dr. Sangura further warned that lecturers would not relent in their ongoing industrial action until the government fully honours the agreement.

“We are ready to escalate the strike until the deal is honoured. Lecturers have been patient for too long, but we will not continue to teach under unfulfilled promises,” he stated.

He also appealed to the Ministry of Education to treat university dons with fairness and respect, emphasizing that full CBA implementation is key to restoring industrial harmony in higher education.

“It is disheartening that the government has been quick to implement CBAs for other public servants such as Teachers Service Commission (TSC) staff, yet university lecturers who train the nation’s top professionals are still waiting. This double standard is unacceptable,” he said.

Dr. Sangura lamented that the prolonged lecturers’ strike has severely disrupted the academic calendar, leaving students frustrated and idle.

“The ongoing strike has left many students loitering around campuses, with some engaging in risky behaviour due to idleness and lack of guidance. This is not the environment we want for our young people,” he noted.

He urged the national government to engage in genuine dialogue with lecturers’ unions to resolve the stalemate.

“We are also parents, and we want to go back to class. Our call is simple: let the government fulfill the CBA, respect the teaching profession, and restore normalcy in our universities,” he appealed.