Court issues temporary order against university staff strike

The Employment and Labour Relations Court has issued a temporary order restraining the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) from continuing its strike.

 Justice Jacob Gakeri prohibited the union from inciting or encouraging university staff to participate in industrial action.

“It is hereby ordered that the respondent is temporarily restrained from calling, instigating, or inciting others to take part in any strike or other form of industrial action. The parties shall continue negotiations with a view to resolving the disputed issues consensually,” said Gakeri.

The court's decision followed an application filed on September 16 by the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum of the Federation of Kenya Employers.

Gakeri certified the matter as urgent, directing that the application be served to the union and other interested parties. KUSU has seven days to respond.

The court issued a similar order against the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), halting its ongoing strike.

The orders came a day after public university lecturers went on strike, citing the government's failure to implement the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and other issues.

The matter is set for mention on Monday, October 2.