Lecturers strike: CS Amina now summons all university council leaders

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed is today, (Monday, April 9) expected to meet council chairmen of all 31 universities and colleges for a crisis meeting over the ongoing lecturers strike.

University Education Principal Secretary Japhet Ntiba sent invitation letters summoning the council chairmen for the meeting set to take place at 2pm.

For the sixth week now, the standoff between the lecturers and the government over the implementation of the 2017/2021 collective bargaining agreement has completely paralysed learning in 31 public universities.

The strike has also seen a number of services in major teaching and referral hospitals in the country crippled due to the absence of medical students who help in minor roles under the care of their supervisors.

According to the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union Treasurer Daisy Korir, the doctors are currently unable to offer those services because the lecturers are on strike and are unavailable to offer the students guidance.

Last week, the Education Cabinet Secretary ordered the lecturers to go back to class saying they were acting contrary to the court order.

The crisis meeting between the ministry and university comes even as the inter public university council consultative forum has already warned that the striking dons risk being sacked if they fail to report to work on Monday, April 9.

On their part, the various unions representing the lecturers have insisted that the strike will continue until the government implements the 2017/2021 CBA.