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University learning faces shutdown as lecturers strike over pay
From left: Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) National Chairperson, Dr Grace Nyongesa, Secretary-General Dr Constantine Wasonga, and Organising Secretary Onesmus Mutio hold hands in solidarity at the union head office in Nairobi on September 10, 2025.
Learning in public universities and constituent colleges will be paralysed as lecturers down their tools on Wednesday following the government's failure to pay salary arrears agreed upon last year.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) has reaffirmed its resolve to strike over Sh11.5 billion arrears, citing government inaction even after issuing a seven-day strike ultimatum.
The arrears comprise Sh2.73 billion from Phase Two of the 2021–2025 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that was due in July, and Sh8.8 billion outstanding from the 2017–2021 CBA.
“The strike is on. We are downing our tools come at midnight tomorrow (Tuesday), as no interventions by government have been forthcoming concerning our demands,” said Uasu Secretary-General Dr Contantine Wasonga told Nation.
In the stalled 2021–2025 CBA, the government was to pay the university dons in phases agreed on following a return-to-work formula signed last year. The first phase of Sh3.4 billion was paid in January 2025, the second phase of Sh2.73 billion was due in July, while the third phase was due in September.
Aside from the salary arrears, the lecturers are also agitating for commencement of negotiations and registration of the 2025/2029 CBA after delays to start the process.
At a press briefing last week, Dr Wasonga accused the government of “perpetual neglect” of the welfare of university lecturers, noting that they had lost patience after years of unfulfilled promises.
He observed that going on strike now seems to be the only language the government understands.
UASU is now demanding that the Inter-Public Universities’ Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), the employers’ consultative body for public universities, share details of its counter-offer with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
The demand follows an invitation by the IPUCCF to a joint negotiation committee meeting scheduled for Friday September 19 2025 to be held at Machakos University.
“Kindly but urgently, forward us the beacons for negotiation from SRC and your Counter Offer for the 2025-2029 CBA detailing your itemised response on each head of our demand proposals as per the obtaining Recognition Agreement between yourselves and us for our perusal to enable us to confirm whether to honor the invitation or not,” reads Dr Wasonga’s response to the invitation.
Uasu has accused the SRC, the Ministry of Education, and the Treasury of defying binding court orders, including one by the Employment and Labour Relations Court that directed additional budgetary allocation for the full implementation of the 2017–2021 CBA.
The dons’ strike comes just days after universities reopened for the new academic year, sparking fears of fresh disruptions to learning.
Last year, university lecturers paralysed operations in public universities during a two-week strike that was only resolved after a day-long meeting at the Ministry of Labour involving the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), IPUCCF, and other university unions.
In the return-to-work formula, the university staff were promised they would see significant improvements in their compensation and working conditions, but Uasu maintains this is yet to happen.
In the 2025-2029 CBA, the Union is pushing for upward adjustments of salaries and allowances as well as expanded retirement and death benefits.
If granted, graduate assistants would see their basic pay rise from Sh63,647 to Sh86,594, while professors could earn up to Sh305,610 before allowances, with top earners projected to take home nearly Sh1 million by 2029.
The package also includes a Sh60,000 commuter allowance, improved housing benefits, new ICT and book allowances, an extended retirement age of up to 74 years, death benefits covering 96 months’ salary plus 80,000 for burial expenses.
The basic salary and house allowances for University staff are determined by Unions and Inter-IPUCCF on the advice of the SRC and with the concurrence of the ministries of Education, Labour and Treasury.
Presidential Working Party on Education Reform, chaired by Prof Raphael Munavu, noted in its report a disconnect during discussions on salaries for university staff that has resulted in payroll-associated debts in a number of Universities.
It was noted that the factors SRC considers in determining the salaries do not include the ability of an individual university to pay. MoE and the Treasury provide an estimate of the budget before negotiations commence.
“Unfortunately, this has not been the case, and the budget has remained more or less the same over the years,” states the report.
