Kenya -KENYA: Universities Academic Staff Union Issues 7day Strike Notice Over Kiama’s Ouster As University Of Nairobi Vice Chancellor

By Lisbeth Micheni, Kenya

The Kenyan Universities Academic Staff Union has issued a seven-day strike notice, over government’s failure to intervene in the leadership crisis at the University of Nairobi, Kenya.

Speaking on Tuesday at UASU offices, Uniafric House, the union, defended Prof Stephen Kiama after the UoN council on Monday removed him and installed an acting Vice Chancellor, Margaret Hutchinson in his stead.

The union demanded that the university council adheres to the right procedure for the replacement of vice chancellors.

UASU dismissed sentiments by the council chairman, Prof Amukowa Anangwe, that he received complaints from staff which among other charges, led to Kiama’s suspension.

“As UASU-UoN, we are not Informed to such complaints and have no records of the same, even as we struggle to understand how a body tasked with policy was sympathizing with staff through means unknown to UASU,” the union said.

“We take offense to the narrative that a separate unofficial, unauthorized and unknown way of collecting sentiments of staff is available to this council and not any other before it.”

While censuring Amukowa and his team, UASU said that it is the legal entity that speaks on behalf of academic staff of all public universities.

“We passionately mock at any attempt by the council chair to nullify the union’s role as the staff representative,” UASU said.

It stated that if the council wished to hear from the staff, there are established protocols that guide such engagements.

UASU added that it does not and will not agree that the council establishes an unofficial channel of reaching staff.

“That is a sure way to engender distrust, disharmony and mendacity; ultimately, it will end the academe as we know it.”

UASU also pointed out that the University of Nairobi will be and should be run as a respectable corporate entity and not “some half-wit banana organization.”