The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) officially ended its 49-day strike on Wednesday, November 5, bringing relief to thousands of university students and staff across Kenya.
The industrial action, which had paralysed learning in public universities since September, was called off after the government agreed to settle the long-standing salary arrears owed to lecturers.
According to UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga, the union reached a deal with the government for the payment of Ksh7.9 billion in arrears from the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The payment will be made in two phases — the first instalment will be disbursed between November and December this year, while the second instalment will be paid in July 2026.
Wasonga noted that the agreement followed intense negotiations that lasted several weeks, during which both sides exchanged accusations and defended their positions. He expressed optimism that this new deal would restore calm in universities and allow academic activities to resume smoothly.
Speaking during a press briefing, Wasonga apologised to university students for the learning time lost during the strike and assured them that lecturers were committed to making up for the missed lessons.
“I sincerely apologise to all the comrades for the 42-plus days that have been wasted during this strike,” Wasonga said. “Our members have agreed to put in extra effort to ensure that all lost time is fully recovered. The current semester may be slightly extended to accommodate the recovery plan.”
He also called on the government to keep its end of the bargain, stressing that the union would maintain industrial peace as long as the agreement is honoured.
“It is now upon the government to implement what we have agreed on today. If they fulfil this agreement, I can confidently say that UASU will not call another strike until the year 2030,” he assured.
However, Wasonga warned that if the government fails to meet its obligations as stated in the signed deal, the lecturers’ union will have no choice but to resume industrial action immediately.
The latest agreement also opens the door for negotiations on the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement, which both parties are expected to finalise within the next 30 days under the new return-to-work formula.
The end of the strike came just a day after UASU hinted at the possibility of calling it off, following mediation efforts by the National Assembly’s Committee on Education.
Wasonga had earlier appeared before the committee, where he confirmed that the union would reconvene its leadership to review the government’s proposal in the interest of the students and the broader education sector.
This resolution marks a major breakthrough for the higher education sector, with hopes that universities can now resume normal operations and that the agreement will pave the way for stronger relations between lecturers and the government in the years ahead.
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