HISTORY OF UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC STAFF UNION 1979-1980 (PART 2)A BRIEF DOSSIER BY WILLY MUTUNGA ON THE STRUGGLE TO HAVE PROF. NGUGI WA THIONG'O RESUME HIS DUTIES AT THE UNIVERSITY
On 4 July, 1979,the Mutunga led committee wrote the first memorandum to the Vice Chancellor and Council on the Urgency of Prof. Ngugi's case. On his part, Prof. Ngugi wrote a letter to the Council expressing his willingness to resume duty.
The Chairman and Secretary General met the new Vice Chancellor, Professor J.M Mungai. The Vice Chancellor in the presence of the Registrar explained that the issue of Prof Ngugi's case was beyond the University and it was a matter of public security and he (Prof. Ngugi) needed clearance from somewhere else.
A special conference of the Union was held on 16 July, 1979 which resolved that the Petition be sent to State House by hand and a Press Conference be called to inform the Kenyan Public that members of staff have petitioned the Chancellor.
On 30 July 1979, Members of Parliament asked the Assistant Minister why Prof. Ngugi was denied opportunity to resume his duties "despite requests from students and lecturers at the University and the people of Kenya." The Minister's response grossly misinterpreted, excluded important details and falsified the case .
On 3 August, 1979, The Registrar of UoN wrote to Prof. Ngugi and informed him that the University, acting on some legal advice from unspecified quarters as early as January, 1978 dismissed him from his job through an invocation of an act of State.
Prof. Ngugi responded to the letter from the Registrar.He abhorred the secrecy and silence on the matter. Prof. Ngugi later gave a press statement and told the Kenyan Public about his secret, unilateral, unjust, arbitrary and illegal dismissal. He concluded his press statement by noting the following:
" I look forward to a time when no Kenyan shall lose his job for saying that Kenyan cultures must be free from foreign domination, a time when no Kenyan shall lose his job for demonstrating that Kenyan cultures that glorify the grandeur of our past struggles and achievements and that show the great possibilities open before us all, Kenya people, can blossom in great dignity and beauty if given a chance"
CONFLICT WITH GOVERNMENT
From 1979-1980, differences began to emerge between government and UASU when the Union demanded reinstatement of Ngugi wa Thiong'o to his former teaching position at University of Nairobi after his release from detention. In addition, UASU castigated the University and government on how they handled student demonstrations against apartheid regime of South Africa and murder of Dr. Walter Rodney in Guyana. The Union also started demanding higher wages for its members.
UASU DISBANDED
The Secretary General Willy Mutunga was arrested on 10 June 1980 and UASU proscribed on 19 July 1980.
The government disbanded UASU and accused lecturers and professors of being involved in politics which was not the core business to their employment. Mutunga went into exile in Canada after release on 20 October, 1980.
By the time of disbandment, the Union was referred to as University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and not as Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU).
*Source*: Al Amin Mazrui & Willy Mutunga " The State vs.the Academic Unions in Post Colonial Kenya.