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{
    "id": 725462,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/725462/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 153,
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the misery and injury that has been caused is clear. In the medical sector, patients have lost their lives because there are no facilities for them to be attended to. In the education sector, we have students who have been forced to be out of class. This especially is happening in a set-up where the programmes for the university are very tight. Lecturing is one of the noble professions and maybe not one of the most highly paying. Most of the lecturers who have devoted themselves to this profession will work long hours trying to ensure that they impart knowledge. For a long time, the salaries for lecturers and members of staff at the university have been very low. For example, a lecturer earns about Kshs99,802 compared to other sectors where immediately after training, people start earning even up about Kshs400,000. We should not forget that these are the people who impart knowledge. Then, we have a situation where professors earn just up to about Kshs200,000. So, the CBA in terms of specifications on what they had asked for was quite realistic. This was about a pay rise. For example, we have a lecture who was earning about Kshs99,000 go up to earning about Kshs350,000 and for a professor who earns about Kshs200,000 to move up to about Kshs1.5 million per month. The basis of the disagreement was the CBA that was signed in 2012. This is the 2013-2017 CBA. What also is in contention is that this CBA expires in five months’ time. That is why it becomes a weighty matter. In terms of engagement, the lecturers are trying to present that point and position so that this is done. It has to be done before the end of this Parliament. Otherwise, it will not be factored in the budgetary allocation. That is very important. Various meetings have taken place between the university unions and the Inter- Public University Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF). Discussions have been going on but no clear direction has been given. An offer of Kshs10 billion has been made to the lecturers. This was offered so that they could call off the strike. However, that agreement of whether this has been accepted or not has not been made. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, apart from the monetary aspect, there were other aspects of the bargaining agreement which are very critical. In terms of the work, that is done in terms of the conditions that are there. This has not been addressed. So, as we speak the strike is full blown. That CBA agreement has not been adhered to. We have a problem in that sector. Lecturers are not in class. The other one for the doctors’ strike is on a CBA. This was signed in 2013 but it has not been implemented. Apart from the monetary aspects, there were key aspects about this agreement that were very critical, for example; to bolster the Kenyan system of health and that would be good. They were to set aside funds for medical research and that will be very critical, there was to be a sense of having money put in to ensure ongoing training takes place and they were to ensure that they address issues of equipment shortages. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, over time, what we have seen is a to and from movement between the doctors, the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary in the Health docket. It is unfortunate that the to and fro movement has ended up worsening the situation. We have seen something we have never seen in this country where doctors The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}