In April
1966, an organization called the University College Academic Staff Association
was registered with the Registrar of Societies. The association was very much a
social organization which welcomed and sent off expatriate staff as they joined
and left college.
Prior to
1972, most lecturers at the University of Nairobi were members of the
University Staff Association, which was provided for in the University of
Nairobi Act (1970). The staff association was entitled to representation in the
University Council.
The
Association was transformed into a Union due to inability to access certain
information crucial to staff welfare. Some Dons had rejected membership of this
body which they regarded as part of the government machinery to curb academic
freedom. For this reason, they took the initiative of registering UASU.
The move was
unpopular with the University Council because the Union Constitution provided
the strike action as a last resort. The association members decided to form a
trade union which could make certain demands with the backing of the law.
Although
there was a lot of lobbying from Council and certain Senate members to
association members to reconsider their decisions and revert to association,
the pressure that came with being unrepresented in Council and its committees,
members in 1972 voted overwhelmingly to remain in a trade union.