ODM leader Raila Odinga (left) converses with the Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Wilson Sossion [Photo/www.nation.co.ke]
Nominated MP and KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion have urged university lecturers to stay put and speak tougher on their push to have their negotiated CBA honored saying legislators would support their petition.
Sossion who spoke when receiving the petition served by UASU officials said the lecturers should not call off the industrial action. He asked education CS Fred Matiang’I to abandon the supervision of the ongoing KCSE exams and concentrate on the stalemate at the university education sector.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo condemned the parliament security teams for blocking lecturers from accessing parliament saying the union just like any other person had a right to assemble and petition to parliament.
“It is regrettable and we apologise to the union officials. Anyone who wants to access or petition parliament has a right to do so and we have honoured you having come out to receive the petition since they blocked you from getting into parliament,” said Mr. Amollo.
The opposition-affiliated legislators vowed to stand firm with the union and pledged to move with speed and discuss the public universities strike. Mr. Amolo said they would ensure that National assembly speaker Justin Muturi receives the petition.
Police officers blocked UASU officials and their members from accessing parliament in a dramatic scene that saw them allow only three top officials to access parliament and could only wait for MPs to come for the petition outside parliament buildings.