Kenya’s higher education sector is staring at a fresh crisis after lecturers issued a seven-day nationwide strike notice to the government, warning that learning in public universities and colleges could grind to a halt if their grievances are not addressed.
The Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU), which represents lecturers and academic staff across the country, accused the State of failing to honour key agreements meant to improve salaries and working conditions.
Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, September 10, UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga said the union had run out of patience after years of unfulfilled promises.
At the heart of the standoff is the non-implementation of the 2021–2025 and 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), which were negotiated and signed between the union and the government but remain only partially enforced.
Wesonga expressed frustration that despite countless meetings and formal submissions, the government and the Interpublic Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) had continuously undermined the agreements.
“Today we are issuing a seven-day strike notice over the failure by the government to implement the 2021–2025 Phase 2 CBA arrears for the 2025/2026 Financial Year totaling Ksh2.73 billion,” Wesonga declared.
He further noted that going on strike had become the only language the government understands when dealing with lecturers’ demands.
“We cannot wait any longer. Do not be surprised—every single CBA in public universities has only been implemented after we downed our tools. Since they seem to want us to play this game, we are now bringing it straight to their doorstep,” he added firmly.
A History of UASU Strikes
This looming showdown comes barely a year after a major strike in October 2024, when lecturers boycotted classes over delayed salary arrears and the government’s failure to implement the 2021–2025 CBA.
That strike disrupted academic calendars for weeks as lecturers pushed for better pay, improved conditions, and specific salary increments—a 7–10 per cent rise on basic pay and a 4 per cent annual adjustment.
At the time, the government had attempted last-minute negotiations with the National Assembly Committee on Education, Vice Chancellors, and UASU leaders, but talks collapsed after no concrete agreement was reached, largely due to delays in releasing funds.
Barely three months later, in January 2025, UASU issued yet another strike notice, only 40 days after signing a return-to-work formula with the State.
The union accused the government of reneging on an agreement signed on November 23, 2024, which had ended a 24-day strike that paralyzed learning in all 35 public universities and two constituent colleges.
That deal was meant to unlock the implementation of the 2021–2025 CBA, which was valued at Ksh9.7 billion. The agreement outlined a phased rollout:
- The first tranche of Ksh4.3 billion was to cover nine months up to June 2025.
- The remaining Ksh5.4 billion would be disbursed in two equal instalments of Ksh2.7 billion each.
According to the deal, the highest salary for senior lecturers, especially research professors, was supposed to rise from Ksh283,087 (2021/2022) to Ksh345,816 (2024/2025). Meanwhile, the lowest salary was expected to increase from Ksh57,729 to Ksh63,647 within the same period.
What’s Next?
The lecturers’ latest strike threat now leaves the government in a tight corner, especially with first-year students having just reported to public universities last week.
Any disruption could have ripple effects on academic calendars, graduation timelines, and research programmes.
Education stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the State will act swiftly to release the funds or risk another paralyzing shutdown in public universities—a cycle that has become all too familiar in Kenya’s higher learning sector.
Join Government Official WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
