Public university lecturers in Kenya have warned they could resume nationwide industrial action if the government fails to address outstanding salary obligations and provide clear guarantees on how universities will be funded.
The warning comes barely days after lecturers returned to work following a month-long strike that began on October 2 and was called off on October 30, 2026, after the government agreed to provide KSh20 billion towards the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga raised the concerns on Wednesday, November 4, while appearing before joint parliamentary committees on labor and education.
Wasonga said the return-to-work agreement had resolved some immediate demands but left two major issues unsettled: the proposed use of student fees to finance lecturers’ salaries and other employment obligations, and approximately KSh100 billion in outstanding statutory remittances owed by public universities.
The union is particularly concerned about indications that staff salaries could be financed through student fees under the student-centered university funding model. Wasonga argued that lecturers' remuneration should be funded through the National Exchequer and parliamentary appropriations rather than depending on student numbers, fee collections, or loans.
He maintained that the government must honor the KSh20 billion commitment according to the agreed payment schedule and conclude the outstanding components of the CBA within the stipulated timelines.
Under the agreement, the government is expected to release the money in three installments: KSh6.7 billion in the 2026/27 financial year, another KSh6.7 billion in 2027/28, and KSh6.6 billion in 2028/29.
The deal also provides for a 3.5 percent salary adjustment, annual salary increments of five percent, and improved allowances for university staff.
However, the government says negotiations on outstanding non-financial issues will continue, with Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime indicating that the process should be concluded by February 20, 2027.
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission has also said it is ready to facilitate registration of the CBA once the government confirms the availability of funds.
For thousands of students, the renewed disagreement raises concerns about another disruption to lectures, examinations, and academic calendars.
Although lecturers have resumed duty, UASU's warning shows that the industrial dispute is not fully settled. Whether another strike occurs will depend on the government's ability to honor the agreement and resolve the outstanding funding concerns.
https://x.com/NationAfrica/status/2118387998501089531?a=-0QwGh69Fyt7bmT9HTs&s=20
Leave a Reply