Kenya’s public universities face paralysis from midnight after negotiations between lecturers’ unions and the government broke down, with union leaders accusing authorities of ignoring binding court orders on salary arrears.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu) declared on Tuesday that staff would withdraw their labour until three key demands were addressed: payment of Sh2.73 billion from the 2021–2025 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) due in July, settlement of Sh7.9 billion owed from the 2017–2021 CBA, and the commencement of talks on a new 2025–2029 CBA.
Uasu Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga expressed outrage that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) appeared unaware of a 2021 Employment and Labour Relations Court order directing joint action with the Treasury and Education Ministry to provide additional funds for CBAs.
“Dons do not eat promissory notes. Midnight tonight, dons are going to down their tools,” he said.
The unions have accused the SRC, Treasury and Education ministry of defying the courts by withholding funds. An attempt by the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum to convene talks last week was dismissed by Uasu as a public relations exercise.
Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala struck a more conciliatory tone, saying “positive engagements” had taken place and that the government was working to release the funds in a lump sum, rather than in instalments. She acknowledged, however, that negotiations on the 2025–2029 CBA had yet to begin.
Kusu Secretary-General Charles Mukhwaya said lecturers had lost patience. “We are still talking about the 2017–2021 agreement, eight years down the line. Where is the money?” he asked.
The strike comes only days after universities reopened for the new academic year, raising fears of widespread disruption to learning. A two-week strike last year paralysed higher education nationwide.
