Moi University now says it is not able to continue paying salaries to its workers as per the 2017/2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBC).
The Kesses-based University had in November 2021 agreed to pay its staff salaries as per the CBA in a return-to-work agreement with staff unions.
Under the agreement, the salaries using the new CBA were to be paid until March 2022 and should the government allocate more resources to the university, the same was to be continued.
But in a letter to workers’ unions, Moi University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Isaac Sanga Kosgey says they are not able to continue implementing the CBA.
“It was agreed that the University would pay staff salary using Diagonal Matrix as per 2017/2021 National CBA from November 2021 to March 2022. It was also agreed that the parties would sit, review and discuss a way forward in the event that the Exchequer does not avail additional resources to fully fund full implementation of the 2017/2021 CAB after March 2022,” read part of the letter, in reference to a meeting held on November 19, 2021.
Prof. Kosgey further says despite having held two meetings with respective parties, no agreement has been reached yet on the way forward.
The VC now says the University has been forced to revert back to paying salaries using the Horizontal Matrix.
“In the current circumstances, the University is unable to continue implementing the Diagonal Matrix of the CBAs and wishes to inform staff that salaries from April 2022 shall be paid using the Horizontal Matrix as provided by Return-to-Work signed by the parties on 19th November 2021,” the Moi University VC said in the letter dated April 28, 2022.
He also noted that the matter has been escalated to the Ministry of Education and the Inter Public Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) who have since appealed the implementation of the CBA.
The case is yet to be determined.
But even as Moi University reverts to paying salaries using the previous Horizontal Matrix, it says in the event that funding to fully implement 2017/2021CBA is received from the Exchequer, they will implement the Diagonal Matrix as agreed.
University Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Education Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) which the letter is addressed have not responded yet.