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"id": 236694,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. ole Ntimama",
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"legal_name": "William Ronkorua ole Ntimama",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the higher education in this country has been through turbulence all the time, whether it is the students striking or problems at the universities of probably not having the facilities or sufficient food. Now, it is the dons. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is a very serious matter because, as Prof. Anyang'-Nyong'o said, lecturers in private universities earn much more than their counterparts in public universities. So, is it not their right to strike and say: \"We have attained the same education level with our counterparts in private universities. We do the same job. Why do you not pay us enough money?\" Ms. Karua said that this is the job of the universities. Public universities are parastatals. However, if you compare the salaries paid to our university dons with what is paid to parastatal chiefs in this country, you will realise that our university dons are grossly under-paid. Therefore, we must accept the fact that this is a case of under-payment of people who are supposed to be properly remunerated, so that they can teach our children. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the issue of the Government not having money should not arise. This country has lost billions of shillings through corruption and outright theft. Why do we not find some money immediately, to quieten this situation? Leaving this matter to go on like this is not good. If we go on preaching to the university academic staff from pulpit of bullying and arrogance, we will ruin this country. These are not ordinary boys. They are dons and lecturers in our universities. In many respects, they could give us trouble. Therefore, I would like to appeal to the Ministry of Education to negotiate with those people. They are not rebels. They are our sons and daughters who want to help our children and stabilise higher education in this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am told that the Vice-Chancellor of Nairobi University has issued many bitter threats to the institution's academic staff, probably, under the cover of a tribal baron. These are things that are spreading all over the country. So, could we now call upon the Ministry to negotiate with the university academic staff? Dialogue and consensus are important. The Ministry should not let this strike to continue. This is not a joke. If the Government 3404 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES November 2, 2006 does not act appropriately, it will put this country into total chaos. As the strike continues, the students will continue missing classes. The impact of this scenario on the students, particularly from their parents and the international community, will be big. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we must, therefore, compel the Government to dialogue with the University Academic Staff Union. The Government must be responsible. We should appreciate that these are our own people and try to serve them reasonably. Definitely, if the Government gives the lecturers something reasonable, the lecturers will accept it. Therefore, the Government should not just sit back and say: \"Whatever they do, ni shauri yao. Wakitaka kwendanyumbani, waende! \" That is not right. With those remarks, I beg to support."
}