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University staff seek MPs’ help over disputed Sh7.9bn pay
Universities Academic Staff Union National Chairperson Grace Nyongesa, Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga, and Organizing Secretary Onesmus Mutio at the Uasu head office in Nairobi on September 10, 2025.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) has petitioned Parliament to allocate Sh7.9 billion for the implementation of the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), as the dispute over the figure with the government continues.
The strike, now in its third week with no party willing to budge, has seen them maintain in a six-page petition to the National Assembly that the outstanding amount for the full implementation of the 2017–2021 CBA is Sh7.9 billion, not Sh624 million as stated by the government.
In their breakdown, the joint petition by Uasu and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu) indicates that the total cost for the 2017–2021 CBA was Sh16,574,630,447—comprising Sh13,812,192,039 for basic salary and Sh2,762,438,409 as pension.
According to the petition, the union says the government has so far paid Sh8.6 billion, leaving a balance of Sh7,974,630,447.
“We, as your petitioners, humbly pray that the National Assembly urgently allocates funds for the full implementation of the 2017–2021 CBA totalling Sh7,974,630,447,” reads the petition.
The 2017–2021 CBA was signed on October 28, 2019, between the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) and Uasu, and was registered by the Employment and Labour Relations Court.
University Academic Staff Union and Kenya University Staff Union members during a peaceful protest in Nairobi on October 8, 2025.
To fund the 2017–2021 CBA, Parliament in May 2020 approved funding through Supplementary Budget II in the 2019/2020 Financial Year.
In July 2020, the National Treasury, through the Ministry of Education, released Sh6.6 billion as the initial amount to fund the CBA.
According to the union, the Sh6.6 billion covered part of the arrears of basic salary for all public university workers represented by Uasu, Kusu and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (Kudheiha).
In their petition, the unions say the balance of Sh2.2 billion was expected to be included in the 2021/2022 budget. However, the National Treasury allocated only Sh2 billion, resulting in a balance of Sh200 million.
Members of the University Academic Staff Union and the Kenya University Staff Union during a peaceful demonstration in Nairobi on September 24, 2025.
The unions further state that the 2017–2021 CBA, which was effective from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2021, was to remain in force until its successor, the 2021–2025 CBA (effective July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2025), is concluded.
“Failure to pay basic salary as per the registered 2017–2021 CBA is a clear breach of the terms and conditions of service for academic staff, comprising professors, associate professors, senior lecturers, lecturers, assistant lecturers, tutorial fellows and graduate assistants,” reads the petition.
The unions have also urged Parliament to allocate funds for the implementation of the 2025–2029 CBA.
“The demand proposal for the 2025–2029 cycle was sent to the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) on January 3, 2025, and no response has been received to date,” reads the petition.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba before a National Assembly committee.
However, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, while appearing before the House on Wednesday to answer various questions from MPs, dismissed the union’s figure and told lawmakers that implementation of the 2021–2025 CBA is progressing well..
On the 2017–2021 CBA, Mr Ogamba told lawmakers that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has disputed the unions’ claims, advising that Sh7.2 billion of the Sh7.9 billion claimed as outstanding has already been paid through normal annual salary increments, leaving a balance of Sh624 million.
“The bone of contention is therefore this difference in interpretation, which is a matter that is intended to be resolved amicably through objective discussions. The matter needs an objective verification process to ascertain what is actually owed,” he said.
University Academic Staff Union and Kenya University Staff Union members during a peaceful protest in Nairobi on October 8, 2025. They want the government to release CBA arrears.
Mr Ogamba maintained that the ongoing strike was suspended through an injunction by the Employment and Labour Relations Court on September 18, 2025, and that the parties were directed to submit to conciliation. The strike is therefore unprotected, the CS added.
Regarding the 2021–2025 CBA, Mr Ogamba told MPs that the requirements have been substantially met, pointing out that the total financial obligation for the CBA was Sh9.76 billion, disbursable in three tranches.
He said the initial Sh4.3 billion for the implementation of the 2021–2025 CBA has been fully released as agreed.
The CS also told MPs that the Sh2.73 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, which was to be disbursed in July, was delayed but has since been released between July and September 2025.
Lecturers march on the streets in Mombasa on September 17, 2025 when their nationwide strike began.
Mr Ogamba told the House that the final Sh2.73 billion for the 2026/2027 financial year is to be paid in the next financial year beginning July; hence, the payment is not yet due.
“For the 2021–2025 CBA, the issues raised therein have been substantially addressed,” Mr Ogamba told MPs.
The CS added that, according to the conciliator’s report filed in court on September 30, 2025, the implementation of the 2021–2025 CBA is up to date and union members have been paid their dues accordingly.
On the 2025–2029 CBA, the parties are waiting for negotiation parameters to be provided by the SRC as required by law.
Mr Ogamba told lawmakers that it is therefore premature for the unions to file a dispute on the 2025–2029 CBA.
“It should be noted that most of the issues being raised by the unions have been addressed as the 2021–2025 CBA is being implemented as agreed, and the government is ready to start negotiations for the 2025–2029 CBA,” the CS told the lawmakers.
The Committee on Education is expected to convene a meeting with the unions over the issues raised in the petition and table its report to the House.
