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"id": 1562656,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1562656/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Julius Migos Ogamba",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Education",
"speaker": null,
"content": "We also agreed on an annual automatic four per cent increment. We agreed that the revised salaries would be effective October 2024. Retirement age was also sorted out and transition provisions were provided to ensure that there is a smooth transition with the higher retirement ages until the expiry of the existing contracts. Harmonisation of allowances was also undertaken beginning October 2024, which resolved the issues that were raised relating to different allowances being given by different universities. On budget enhancement, we gave commitments to address budgetary allocations for staffing, promotions and related priorities. The Interpublic Universities Council (IPUCCF) and UASU were required to convene. They did that and they have undertaken the process of implementing the return- to-work formula. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in line with the return-to-work formula, the technical team composed of IPUCCF representatives and the three unions convened and worked out the figures that were required. They came up with a figure of Kshs9.7 billion. This figure was agreed to be spread out for the following financial years 2024/2025, 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 to ensure that they are taken care of. Therefore, it led to the signing of a CBA on the 23rd November, 2024. The payments for financial years 2021/2025 commenced in December, 2024, with the effective implementation date being 1st October, and we have adhered to it so far. To avert a recurrence of industrial disputes in the university sub-sector, the Government has committed to ensuring that negotiations for future CBAs commence at the start of each cycle to allow proper planning and budgeting. Since the implementation of CBAs is resource-sensitive, we are also creating a legal and policy framework to ensure that our public universities are financially sustainable. Part of this includes the introduction of the student-centred-funding model, which replaced the DUC under which universities were seriously underfunded. The ongoing law reform process is also geared towards ensuring that the governance frameworks in public universities are effective, efficient, transparent and accountable in the prudent use of university resources. We have also instructed our public universities to address staff issues as and when they arise instead of overlooking them until they assume crisis proportions. Overall, the measures to improve governance and sustainable financing at our public universities will also support the enhancement of infrastructure in our public universities. We have also encouraged universities to work on alternative resource mobilization initiatives in order to minimize reliance on the exchequer. I submit, Mr. Speaker, Sir."
}