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No deal: Lecturers reject government's Sh7.9 billion phased-payment offer
Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga addressing the media at the Head office in Nairobi on October 1, 2025.
What you need to know:
- The strike, which is now in its seventh week, has seen learning come to a complete halt in public universities and colleges.
- The tussle between the government has left students in limbo but the unions insist the fault lies with the government.
Lecturers have rejected the proposal by the government to release the Sh7.9 billion owed to university staff in two phases, dashing any hope that learners can resume their classes soon after a seven-week strike by the university staff.
Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary General Dr Constantine Wasonga said the proposal was presented to the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) and National Delegates Conference (NDC) on Friday and rejected entirely.
“The payment of Sh7.9 billion should be done at once and immediately. The lecturers say that they do not disseminate knowledge in phases. No one should contemplate or imagine that we can be paid in phases,” he said.
Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya also said the proposal would have seen lecturers and staff wait for their money even longer.
“The two phased payment offer would have seen the debt owed to lecturers paid in more than ten years. That is what the lecturers reject saying they want their money paid immediately.”
The strike, which is now in its seventh week, has seen learning come to a complete halt in public universities and colleges.
The tussle between the government has left students in limbo but the unions insist the fault lies with the government.
“The strike continues until all issues are settled. Lecturers are open to dialogue and it is up to the government to give us a better offer, “ said Mr Mukhwaya.
This, as Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on Friday urged lecturers and university staff to relax their hardline stance and call off the strike.
Offer to settle outstanding issues
Speaking during the 12th graduation ceremony at the South Eastern Kenya University (Seku) at Kwavonza area in Kitui, the CS said the government is committed to working with all the university staff unions to address the grievances and concerns that have been raised by their members.
“I encourage the unions and their members to accept the government’s offer to settle those outstanding issues and call off the strike. In the meantime, I call upon the universities’ staff and students to remain calm as we work with all the stakeholders to address the current industrial dispute,” Mr Ogamba said.
While the lecturers say they are open to dialogue, they insist the only deal they can accept is one that involves payment of arrears in full and at once as well as the implementation of the 2025/2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
“We are four months in arrears, those arrears must be settled in full before lecturers can contemplate going back to work. All public universities and their constituent colleges shall remain on strike until all the demands are met. All 38 chapters must reenergize and relaunch the strike,” said Dr Wasonga.
Mr Mukhwaya also said the government has the habit of making promises and not keeping its side of the bargain arguing it does not have the money.
“The government owes us this money since July 1, 2017. There cannot be any government without money. A government that is broke is a government that is not in office,” he said.
Dr Wasonga also noted that lecturers and university staff were tired of seeing wastage in government yet they are not being paid.
“Yesterday, we saw projects worth billions being launched in Kakamega yet lecturers are being told that they have to be paid in phases. We refuse such deals. We should be paid in full,” he added.
