The Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU) has issued a seven-day strike notice to all councils of public universities and constituent colleges.
In a notice dated Wednesday, September 10, the lecturers cited unresolved disputes over collective bargaining agreements and arrears.
UASU invoked provisions of the Constitution of Kenya and the Labour Relations Act to justify its action.
The union referenced Article 41 (1) and (2)(d) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, which guarantees every person the right to fair labour practices, including the right to go on strike.
The union also cited Section 76 of the Labour Relations Act, 2007, which outlines conditions under which protected strikes and lockouts may take place.
These include disputes over employment terms or union recognition, failure to resolve disputes through conciliation, and the issuance of a seven-day written notice to relevant parties and the Cabinet Secretary.
“Therefore, the Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU) hereby issues a Seven (7) days written strike notice with effect from the date of this letter to all Councils of Public Universities and Constituent Colleges,” read the notice in part.
In its letter, UASU outlined three key grievances that remain unresolved despite a court directive stating that the SRC should work together with the IPUCCF Implementation Committee, the Ministry of Education, and the Treasury to make provision for the additional budgetary allocation necessary for implementing the CBAs.
- Failure to implement the 2021-2025 Phase Two CBA arrears amounting to Ksh. 2.73 billion for the 2025/2026 financial year.
- Failure to negotiate, conclude, register, and implement the 2025-2029 National CBA in line with the Recognition Agreement signed on October 28, 2019, between UASU and the Inter-Public Universities’ Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF).
- Failure to implement the 2017-2021 CBA, despite rulings by the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC CBA Nos. 1, 2, and 3 of 2020), which directed the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to work with IPUCCF, the Ministry of Education, and the Treasury to provide the necessary budgetary allocation.
The union has warned that members across all public universities and their constituent colleges will withdraw their labour beginning Wednesday, September 17, 2025, and will not resume duty until the issues are addressed.
“Further, you are categorically and unequivocally informed that: Our members in All Public Universities and their Constituent Colleges, shall withdraw their labour and shall not resume duty until the three (3) issues raised in the Written Strike Notice are addressed. That the said strike shall commence on Wednesday 17th September 2025,” the Union said.
This comes after in July this year National Treasury CS John Mbadi signalled that the government could also consider outsourcing services in underfunded institutions, stating that it can no longer fully cater to the needs of government-sponsored students.
According to the Treasury CS, public universities are collectively owed more than Ksh4 billion—a debt he attributes to years of educating students without adequate state funding since 2016.
He made it clear that the government is unlikely to settle the outstanding dues given the current financial constraints.
