Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga has urged the government to fully implement the return-to-work agreement signed with university lecturers, warning that unresolved salary and collective bargaining issues could undermine efforts to stabilise public universities.
Appearing before parliamentary committees on labour and education on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, Wasonga said lecturers suspended their strike to allow negotiations to resolve outstanding salary issues, following the government’s payment of Ksh20 billion in staff arrears.
He said the unions expected the government to honour the agreement in full rather than prolonging negotiations or delaying the agreed payments.
The UASU secretary-general said the dispute extended beyond the conclusion of one round of collective bargaining, touching on government funding obligations, workers’ rights and the sustainability of public higher education.
In his address, Wasonga argued that public universities require adequate and predictable government financing to deliver their teaching, research and other national responsibilities.
“The issues before this committee go beyond the conclusion of a single round of collective bargaining. They concern the constitutional and statutory responsibility of the government to provide adequate and predictable financing for public universities,” he said.
Wasonga also challenged the reliance on student numbers, fee collection and student loans to finance staff salaries and negotiated collective bargaining agreements.
“Not should the payment of employee salaries and implementation of duly negotiated CBS depend on student numbers, fees collection, student loans, and other market-based sources,” he said.
Wasonga acknowledged progress made through the return-to-work formula dated Friday, October 30, 2026, saying the unions remained committed to constructive engagement and concluding outstanding negotiations.
However, he insisted that the agreement must be honoured, with the Ksh20 billion released according to the agreed payment schedule.
“The agreed 20 billion must be released in accordance with the stipulated tranches and the outstanding CB items must be concluded within the agreed timeline,” he said.
His remarks place pressure on the government to complete the outstanding commitments as negotiations continue, with university staff seeking certainty over their employment entitlements and the financing of public institutions.
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