This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
On July 17, 2019, the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) submitted a petition to Parliament, urging lawmakers to halt the proposed merger of public universities and campuses.
The petition, signed by Uasu Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga, expressed concerns that the merger process lacked adequate consultations and could lead to job losses for some staff members.
Public universities in Kenya employ approximately 27,000 staff, with 9,000 being lecturers. The proposed merger and review of academic courses could result in significant job losses, according to the petition.
Some universities have already begun eliminating disciplines, departments, and schools in anticipation of the proposed merger, further exacerbating the concerns of the academic staff.
Dr. Wasonga emphasized the need for a national debate on the issue before the government implements any university merger, stating, "Universities academic staff are, therefore, extremely concerned that the proposed mergers of public universities are either aligned with any national educational policy goal or principle."
