Public university lecturers confirm September strike over CBA implementation
Lecturers in public universities are set to initiate a strike in September if the government does not implement the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has warned.
According to union officials, the 2025-2029 CBA was expected to be signed in November 2025 but remains pending.
The latest warning comes despite the government releasing Ksh6.8 billion to public universities to settle arrears arising from the 2017-2021 and 2021-2025 CBAs.
Speaking at the State Lodge in Bungoma on Friday, August 14, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed that the funds had been released on Thursday to universities as part of efforts to prevent disruptions in the education sector.
“I am happy to report that out of the arrears that existed between the financial years of 2017-2021 and 2021-2025, a total of Ksh6.8 billion has been released to the university as of yesterday,” he stated.
However, UASU maintains that the outstanding issues under the new current agreement must be addressed before it can withdraw the planned industrial action.
In addition, the union wants the government to settle outstanding CBA arrears separately from regular salaries so lecturers can clearly confirm that the payments have been made.
The agreement is expected to address lecturers’ remuneration, including allowances and medical insurance, as well as working conditions.
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UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga said lecturers should receive allowances that are harmonised rather than varying widely between institutions.
“We want salaries commensurate with our qualifications. We want harmonisation of allowances in public universities. There is no way a lecturer in one university should be getting a commuter allowance of Ksh50,000 while another one is being paid Ksh12,000 and others don’t even receive anything,” he said.
The union has also raised concerns over large classes, with lecturers required to teach more students while handling continuous assessments and examinations.
“As the number of students is increasing, even for dons, it is becoming a burden to handle the big classes, give a minimum of two CATs, and mark examinations. So, it is our desire that our members go back to handling three courses, as stipulated in our CBA and by law,” said UASU Secretary General Rongo Lucy Nyakeyo.
As the next semester’s opening dates approach, the looming strike has raised concerns over possible disruptions to academic activities.
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