Universities Academic Staff Union Lays Blame on Treasury for Salary Delays
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has blamed the Treasury for late payments of salaries while they have also complained that some universities do not remit mandatory deductions.
Late distribution of capitation funds from the National Treasury has strained public universities making it difficult to pay the teaching staff and the non-teaching staff their previous month’s wages.
Egerton, Kisii University, Moi and Kenyatta universities have communicated in writing to their staff so far and have informed them of the delay and requested that they stay calm while performing their duties.
According to the National Organizing Secretary of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), most universities do not pay their academic staff and other staff on time while others do not remit mandatory deductions.
Ambrose Kiprop, the Intermin vice-chancellor of administration, planning and strategy at Moi University has directed employees to continue to perform their jobs while waiting for their salary.
The institution pays its employees through capitation from the treasury hence the delays.
On the other hand, the vice-chancellor of Kisii University called on workers to continue working telling them that the university had not yet received a capitation for the month of August from the government.
“We thus request all staff members to exercise patience,” said Prof Akama adding that the institution’s administration would act quickly in distributing the salary once they receive the capitation funds.
Kenyatta University confirmed receiving the capitation and apologized to the personnel for the delay in payment.
The Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) said, “We take this opportunity to thank all employees for their patience and regret any difficulty caused by the delay in salary release.”
UASU members and other staff union members in several institutions have since gone on strike over unpaid salaries and non-remittance of mandatory deductions over the last three years.
Public Universities owe their employees around Kshs. 7.9 billion including the employer pension component. The overall deficit owed by the government to public universities is around Kshs. 96.3 billion.
UASU members demanded the execution of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for 2017-21 (CBA).
According to reports, only Kenyatta University, Taita Taveta, Cooperative, Koitalele, Samoei, Dedan Kimathi and Kirinyaga Universities compensate their instructors according to accurate scales.
Universities have even gone against a court decision deciding to instead implement the CBA in their own way leading to huge arrears with employees also pressing them to release the overdue wages.
While congratulating President-elect William Ruto on his victory, Dr Nyaberi urged Dr Ruto to develop and equip institutes for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and make them accessible.
The Dons also sought the reinstatement of former KU Vice-Chancellor Paul Wainaina.
Wainaina was ousted by the University Council over a 410-acre land dispute involving the transfer of 410 acres owned by the university to the World Health Organization (WHO).
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