By Michelle Ndaga
The government has released Sh2.5 billion to implement Phase Two of the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for university lecturers, in a move aimed at averting a nationwide strike that threatened to paralyze learning in public universities.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed the release, urging members of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) to withdraw their strike notice and allow the disbursed funds to be processed and reflected in their accounts.
UASU had earlier issued a seven-day strike notice, accusing the government of failing to honour its obligations under the current CBA. The dons are also demanding settlement of arrears from the 2017–2021 CBA and immediate commencement of negotiations for the 2025–2029 agreement.
Ogamba assured the lecturers that the government is committed to meeting its financial obligations, adding that dialogue remains the best way forward. “We appeal to our lecturers to suspend the strike and allow ongoing efforts to conclude so that learning is not disrupted,” he said.
The planned strike, backed by more than 40 public universities, was expected to begin this week and disrupt teaching and examinations across the country if no agreement was reached.
