Meru University of Science and Technology staff have threatened to go on strike starting tomorrow over harassment.
The staff have cited several issues why they have reached at the decision including mismanagement and harassment.
The Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) have cited that the university had ignored their demands for more than three years starting 2019.
On Tuesday, UASU Meru branch secretary-general Mulu Munyao informed journalists that the staff is affected by an inadequate medical insurance cover, lack of promotions, interference in the academic calendar, embezzlement of funds, abuse of office by the university council and mutilation of university policies.
Mulu said that the staff want the mentioned issues and many others addressed with immediate effect or otherwise they down tools starting tomorrow.
Following the above issues affecting the Meru University of Science and Technology staff, UASU branch chairman Victor Akwalu has called for an audit into the university finances, recruitment procedures, a stop to the overlapping semesters and a probe into abuse of office of the vice-chancellor of the institution.
“The staff who guaranteed colleagues on study leave are harassed and threaned of deduction of their salaries”, Mr Munyao reported.
According to Munyao, the management of the institution has failed to make a follow up of members on leave to resume duty only to harass and threaten the guarantors.
It has also been revealed that some of the workers are sacked on failure to resume duty only to demand compensation from guarantors.
The Meru University of Science and Technology VC Prof Odhiambo said that the administrators are currently working on some of the issues affecting the staff, one of them being promoting deserving staff starting next year.
The unions associated the overlapping semesters to a ploy to raise more money from students especially at the moment when the university is struggling financially.
However, Prof Odhiambo the overlapping semesters came as a result of the time lost when all institutions were closed after the outbreak the Covid-19 pandemic and a break for the August general elections.
Prof Odhiambo further said that there are no plans to close the the Meru town campus.
On the issues squandering money in meetings, Prof Odhiambo said all special council meetings are approved by the Ministry of Education.
Lastly the VC noted that the staff medical insurance cover is being reviewed to advise future adjustments.
If the strike materializes tomorrow, Meru University of Science and Technology will be the second to go on strike this month after Egerton University.
