Several members of public universities-based workers’ unions, the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) were on Monday, September 23, arrested in Nairobi Central Business (CBD).
The striking members, comprised of lecturers, were arrested as they prepared to present a petition to the Parliament, and the National Treasury and Education Cabinet Secretaries.
These arrests came shortly after chaos erupted as the striking lecturers who were marching towards Parliament were teargassed by National Police Service (NPS) officers in a bid to disperse them.
They were arrested near Jogoo House in Nairobi CBD as they prepared to present the petition over the delay by the government to finalize an agreed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Under UASU, the lecturers were marching to present their petitions to Parliament on the 2021-2025 CBA that they had entered into with the government, which they protested it had not been implemented.
Videos seen by The Kenya Times showed people in Nairobi’s CBD running away with their noses covered as they questioned why the police were firing teargas canisters at them.
The university dons were forced to run and seek shelter as the smoke from the teargas canisters rented the air.
Also Read: Lecturers From 5 Universities Threaten to Go on Strike
Businesses and people around town were equally caught in the standoff after they were forced to run following teargas smoke that rented the air.
“What is wrong with these people (the police),’’ a voice could be heard shouting in the middle of the confusion.
Lecturers arrested in UASU & KUSU strike
The lecturers under UASU and KUSU had also intended to march to the National Treasury and Ministry of Education offices within the CBD to present the petition.
Also Read: KUPPET suspends Countrywide Teachers Strike
Several staff members from both unions were put into police custody following the strike, with videos from the scene showing police forcefully swam around a female staff around the Ministry of Education offices, before bangling her in a nearby police car.
”Leave me alone, what have I done to be arrested?” unidentified female staff could be heard pleading with the police before accepting to go with the police.
The lecturers under UASU and KUSU began a nationwide industrial action on Wednesday, September 18 after the government failed to honor their part of the CBA, with public universities across the country suffering disruption.
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