Fresh standoff as UASU accuses government of delaying CBA

A fresh standoff is brewing between the government and the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) over delays in signing and implementing acollective bargaining agreement(CBA) and what the union describes as questionable hiring practices at the University of Nairobi (UoN).UASU now warns that failure to address the issues could trigger industrial action, raising the prospect of renewed instability at the country’s oldest public university, just months after a new council was appointed to restore order following prolonged governance turmoil.Speaking to UASU members at UoN, Secretary-General Dr Maloba Wekesa accused the government and university management of breaching the 2021–2025 CBA and manipulating recruitment to exert control over the institution.“Chacha Nyaigori Chacha, the University of Nairobi is still paying a heavy price for the shambolic mess that the former university council left us,” Wekesa said.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsAppWhile welcoming the dissolution of the former council and the appointment of a new one, the Sec-Genquestioned the exclusionof the deputy vice-chancellor in charge of human resources from recently advertised top management positions, describing it as deliberate.“What was missing in this advertisement was the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Human Resources, which is also held in an acting capacity. This is not an inadvertent omission but a deliberate act that sows’ seeds of disorder and points to unseen intent in controlling staff hiring,” he said.He also raised concerns over several senior support roles, including finance, personnel and procurement, that have remained unfilled substantively, with officers serving in acting capacities for more than a year.“This is a deliberate move to ensure undue influence is exerted on those holding these offices. We demand that the council addresses this decisively to assure staff that the days of ministerial plots are behind us,” Dr Wekesa said.UASU chair Dr Richard Bosire said prolonged acting appointments violate the law andundermine merit-based recruitment, noting that the university has lacked a substantive vice chancellor since September 2024.“Any recruitment in the public sector must be based on merit and professionalism, not nepotism, ethnicity or political expediency. By law, no one should act beyond six months, yet we have officers including the Vice-Chancellor who have been acting for over a year, and nobody seems bothered,” h said.The union also accused the university of failing to implement the CBA, particularly affecting staff who retired after it was signed, saying some have yet to receive their dues or pension.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

UASU now warns that failure to address the issues could trigger industrial action, raising the prospect of renewed instability at the country’s oldest public university, just months after a new council was appointed to restore order following prolonged governance turmoil.Speaking to UASU members at UoN, Secretary-General Dr Maloba Wekesa accused the government and university management of breaching the 2021–2025 CBA and manipulating recruitment to exert control over the institution.“Chacha Nyaigori Chacha, the University of Nairobi is still paying a heavy price for the shambolic mess that the former university council left us,” Wekesa said.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsAppWhile welcoming the dissolution of the former council and the appointment of a new one, the Sec-Genquestioned the exclusionof the deputy vice-chancellor in charge of human resources from recently advertised top management positions, describing it as deliberate.“What was missing in this advertisement was the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Human Resources, which is also held in an acting capacity. This is not an inadvertent omission but a deliberate act that sows’ seeds of disorder and points to unseen intent in controlling staff hiring,” he said.He also raised concerns over several senior support roles, including finance, personnel and procurement, that have remained unfilled substantively, with officers serving in acting capacities for more than a year.“This is a deliberate move to ensure undue influence is exerted on those holding these offices. We demand that the council addresses this decisively to assure staff that the days of ministerial plots are behind us,” Dr Wekesa said.UASU chair Dr Richard Bosire said prolonged acting appointments violate the law andundermine merit-based recruitment, noting that the university has lacked a substantive vice chancellor since September 2024.“Any recruitment in the public sector must be based on merit and professionalism, not nepotism, ethnicity or political expediency. By law, no one should act beyond six months, yet we have officers including the Vice-Chancellor who have been acting for over a year, and nobody seems bothered,” h said.The union also accused the university of failing to implement the CBA, particularly affecting staff who retired after it was signed, saying some have yet to receive their dues or pension.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

Speaking to UASU members at UoN, Secretary-General Dr Maloba Wekesa accused the government and university management of breaching the 2021–2025 CBA and manipulating recruitment to exert control over the institution.“Chacha Nyaigori Chacha, the University of Nairobi is still paying a heavy price for the shambolic mess that the former university council left us,” Wekesa said.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsAppWhile welcoming the dissolution of the former council and the appointment of a new one, the Sec-Genquestioned the exclusionof the deputy vice-chancellor in charge of human resources from recently advertised top management positions, describing it as deliberate.“What was missing in this advertisement was the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Human Resources, which is also held in an acting capacity. This is not an inadvertent omission but a deliberate act that sows’ seeds of disorder and points to unseen intent in controlling staff hiring,” he said.He also raised concerns over several senior support roles, including finance, personnel and procurement, that have remained unfilled substantively, with officers serving in acting capacities for more than a year.“This is a deliberate move to ensure undue influence is exerted on those holding these offices. We demand that the council addresses this decisively to assure staff that the days of ministerial plots are behind us,” Dr Wekesa said.UASU chair Dr Richard Bosire said prolonged acting appointments violate the law andundermine merit-based recruitment, noting that the university has lacked a substantive vice chancellor since September 2024.“Any recruitment in the public sector must be based on merit and professionalism, not nepotism, ethnicity or political expediency. By law, no one should act beyond six months, yet we have officers including the Vice-Chancellor who have been acting for over a year, and nobody seems bothered,” h said.The union also accused the university of failing to implement the CBA, particularly affecting staff who retired after it was signed, saying some have yet to receive their dues or pension.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

“Chacha Nyaigori Chacha, the University of Nairobi is still paying a heavy price for the shambolic mess that the former university council left us,” Wekesa said.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsAppWhile welcoming the dissolution of the former council and the appointment of a new one, the Sec-Genquestioned the exclusionof the deputy vice-chancellor in charge of human resources from recently advertised top management positions, describing it as deliberate.“What was missing in this advertisement was the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Human Resources, which is also held in an acting capacity. This is not an inadvertent omission but a deliberate act that sows’ seeds of disorder and points to unseen intent in controlling staff hiring,” he said.He also raised concerns over several senior support roles, including finance, personnel and procurement, that have remained unfilled substantively, with officers serving in acting capacities for more than a year.“This is a deliberate move to ensure undue influence is exerted on those holding these offices. We demand that the council addresses this decisively to assure staff that the days of ministerial plots are behind us,” Dr Wekesa said.UASU chair Dr Richard Bosire said prolonged acting appointments violate the law andundermine merit-based recruitment, noting that the university has lacked a substantive vice chancellor since September 2024.“Any recruitment in the public sector must be based on merit and professionalism, not nepotism, ethnicity or political expediency. By law, no one should act beyond six months, yet we have officers including the Vice-Chancellor who have been acting for over a year, and nobody seems bothered,” h said.The union also accused the university of failing to implement the CBA, particularly affecting staff who retired after it was signed, saying some have yet to receive their dues or pension.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

While welcoming the dissolution of the former council and the appointment of a new one, the Sec-Genquestioned the exclusionof the deputy vice-chancellor in charge of human resources from recently advertised top management positions, describing it as deliberate.“What was missing in this advertisement was the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Human Resources, which is also held in an acting capacity. This is not an inadvertent omission but a deliberate act that sows’ seeds of disorder and points to unseen intent in controlling staff hiring,” he said.He also raised concerns over several senior support roles, including finance, personnel and procurement, that have remained unfilled substantively, with officers serving in acting capacities for more than a year.“This is a deliberate move to ensure undue influence is exerted on those holding these offices. We demand that the council addresses this decisively to assure staff that the days of ministerial plots are behind us,” Dr Wekesa said.UASU chair Dr Richard Bosire said prolonged acting appointments violate the law andundermine merit-based recruitment, noting that the university has lacked a substantive vice chancellor since September 2024.“Any recruitment in the public sector must be based on merit and professionalism, not nepotism, ethnicity or political expediency. By law, no one should act beyond six months, yet we have officers including the Vice-Chancellor who have been acting for over a year, and nobody seems bothered,” h said.The union also accused the university of failing to implement the CBA, particularly affecting staff who retired after it was signed, saying some have yet to receive their dues or pension.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

“What was missing in this advertisement was the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Human Resources, which is also held in an acting capacity. This is not an inadvertent omission but a deliberate act that sows’ seeds of disorder and points to unseen intent in controlling staff hiring,” he said.He also raised concerns over several senior support roles, including finance, personnel and procurement, that have remained unfilled substantively, with officers serving in acting capacities for more than a year.“This is a deliberate move to ensure undue influence is exerted on those holding these offices. We demand that the council addresses this decisively to assure staff that the days of ministerial plots are behind us,” Dr Wekesa said.UASU chair Dr Richard Bosire said prolonged acting appointments violate the law andundermine merit-based recruitment, noting that the university has lacked a substantive vice chancellor since September 2024.“Any recruitment in the public sector must be based on merit and professionalism, not nepotism, ethnicity or political expediency. By law, no one should act beyond six months, yet we have officers including the Vice-Chancellor who have been acting for over a year, and nobody seems bothered,” h said.The union also accused the university of failing to implement the CBA, particularly affecting staff who retired after it was signed, saying some have yet to receive their dues or pension.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

He also raised concerns over several senior support roles, including finance, personnel and procurement, that have remained unfilled substantively, with officers serving in acting capacities for more than a year.“This is a deliberate move to ensure undue influence is exerted on those holding these offices. We demand that the council addresses this decisively to assure staff that the days of ministerial plots are behind us,” Dr Wekesa said.UASU chair Dr Richard Bosire said prolonged acting appointments violate the law andundermine merit-based recruitment, noting that the university has lacked a substantive vice chancellor since September 2024.“Any recruitment in the public sector must be based on merit and professionalism, not nepotism, ethnicity or political expediency. By law, no one should act beyond six months, yet we have officers including the Vice-Chancellor who have been acting for over a year, and nobody seems bothered,” h said.The union also accused the university of failing to implement the CBA, particularly affecting staff who retired after it was signed, saying some have yet to receive their dues or pension.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

“This is a deliberate move to ensure undue influence is exerted on those holding these offices. We demand that the council addresses this decisively to assure staff that the days of ministerial plots are behind us,” Dr Wekesa said.UASU chair Dr Richard Bosire said prolonged acting appointments violate the law andundermine merit-based recruitment, noting that the university has lacked a substantive vice chancellor since September 2024.“Any recruitment in the public sector must be based on merit and professionalism, not nepotism, ethnicity or political expediency. By law, no one should act beyond six months, yet we have officers including the Vice-Chancellor who have been acting for over a year, and nobody seems bothered,” h said.The union also accused the university of failing to implement the CBA, particularly affecting staff who retired after it was signed, saying some have yet to receive their dues or pension.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

UASU chair Dr Richard Bosire said prolonged acting appointments violate the law andundermine merit-based recruitment, noting that the university has lacked a substantive vice chancellor since September 2024.“Any recruitment in the public sector must be based on merit and professionalism, not nepotism, ethnicity or political expediency. By law, no one should act beyond six months, yet we have officers including the Vice-Chancellor who have been acting for over a year, and nobody seems bothered,” h said.The union also accused the university of failing to implement the CBA, particularly affecting staff who retired after it was signed, saying some have yet to receive their dues or pension.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

“Any recruitment in the public sector must be based on merit and professionalism, not nepotism, ethnicity or political expediency. By law, no one should act beyond six months, yet we have officers including the Vice-Chancellor who have been acting for over a year, and nobody seems bothered,” h said.The union also accused the university of failing to implement the CBA, particularly affecting staff who retired after it was signed, saying some have yet to receive their dues or pension.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

The union also accused the university of failing to implement the CBA, particularly affecting staff who retired after it was signed, saying some have yet to receive their dues or pension.Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest developments and special
offers!

Pick your favourite topics below for a tailor made homepage just for you