Today marks the 75th day since lecturers went on strike. Learning has been paralyzed in Universities since March 1st. And that is not all, learning in Universities was also paralyzed last year. Some Universities did not administer their December examinations. Let me use University of Eldoret as an example. Examinations to mark end of first semester which normally starts in late November and end in mid-December were postponed due to the strike. Those exams were administered in February this year. That meant the calendar for Second semester was interfered with. And just when Universities were adjusting their calendars, another strike notice was given by lecturers. The government did not respond to their threats. On March 1st, the lecturers downed their tools and till date, they have not gone back to lecture halls.
You took over the education docket after a highly contested general elections. Kenyans are aware of your good tract records while you served in the foreign affairs docket. Even though some Kenyans had doubts and reserved comments when you took over the education docket, majority had confidence that you will deliver. That you are a strong woman. An achiever. You took over the education docket at a time when the ministry was dealing with a lot of reforms initiated by former Education Cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i. Apart from the introduction of a new curriculum, there was also the issue of sealing loopholes in the procurement of textbooks, among many other tasks. Cleary, you had a lot on your table. The issue of lecturers strike therefore came at a time when you were just settling down in office.
A wise saying goes that,” a good leader is known in times of trouble.” This time where there is a lot of turbulence in the ministry of education is the right time to show your leadership skills. You should have solved this issue of lecturers’ strike long time ago. The damage and loss you have caused the students, lecturers and the communities depending on University institutions, like those who do business with Universities, is too much. But a common wise saying advises that “Better late than never.” You still have the chance to redeem your reputation as an able leader. Please, do all that is in your capacity to end the lecturers’ strike. And you have to do it now, not later. This is why.
Imagine that student who has labored for five or more years in the University and just when he or she was about to finish, this strike happens. It is traumatizing. It is every student’s wish to graduate and focus on other things like finding a job and/or starting a family. This strike has literally “arrested” the development of these students. They do not know what the future holds for them anymore.Lecturers are demanding that the collective bargain agreement (CBA) they signed be adhered to. They have families to feed and many other people who depend on them. As a leader, there is always a way out of every hard situation[u1] . Think of the agony the students and lecturers are going through and find a way out of this melee. Think of the businessmen and businesswomen who run hotels and bookshops within the University premises. Think of how what they are going through right now. Remember them and find a way out of this mess. Agriculture is the backbone of our economy but education is the key to life.Yours faithfully,Concerned Kenyan