Kenya Lecturers Down Tools Over Stalled Four-Year CBA

University lecturers in Kenya have begun a nationwide strike over the stalled 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The industrial action, which took effect on October 2, 2026, has disrupted learning in public universities across the country. At the University of Nairobi, lecturers gathered at the Graduation Square as the strike commenced. The University Staff Association of Kenya (UASU) Secretary General, Constantine Wasonga, stated that the union had exhausted all available channels of engagement and would not call off the strike until its demands were addressed.

The union is demanding the negotiation, signing, and implementation of the 2025-2029 CBA, with funding provided through the National Exchequer. UASU has rejected a proposed Sh9.76 billion allocation, arguing that the amount is inadequate to fund the four-year agreement. Wasonga raised concerns about understaffing, heavy workloads, and financial challenges affecting public universities. The strike has affected several universities, including the Technical University of Kenya, where lecturers led by Wasonga convened at the graduation square.

According to Wasonga, the union has been seeking a resolution to the stalled CBA for some time. The current CBA, which covers the period 2021-2025, is set to expire. The union is pushing for a new agreement that addresses the lecturers' concerns, including improved working conditions and adequate funding. The strike has caused anxiety among students, who are worried about the impact on their academic calendars.

The Kenyan government has been allocating funds to public universities through the National Exchequer. However, UASU argues that the allocation is inadequate, leading to financial challenges in the universities. The union is seeking a more substantial allocation to support the implementation of the new CBA. The strike has also raised concerns about the quality of education in Kenyan universities, with some stakeholders calling for a swift resolution to the impasse.

The strike has affected not only students but also the broader education sector. Some stakeholders have expressed concern about the impact on the country's education system, which is already facing challenges. The government has been urged to engage with the union to find a resolution to the strike. However, the union has maintained that it will not call off the strike until its demands are addressed.

Constantine Wasonga has been at the forefront of the negotiations with the government. He has been leading the union in its push for a new CBA, which addresses the lecturers' concerns. Wasonga has stated that the union is committed to finding a resolution to the strike, but it will not compromise on its demands. The strike has caused a stir in the education sector, with some stakeholders calling for a more nuanced approach to addressing the lecturers' concerns.

The strike is ongoing, with no immediate resolution in sight. The union has vowed to continue with the industrial action until its demands are addressed. The government has been urged to engage with the union to find a swift resolution to the impasse. Three key points have emerged from the strike: the need for adequate funding for public universities, the importance of addressing understaffing and heavy workloads, and the necessity of implementing a new CBA that addresses the lecturers' concerns.

Key points

• University lecturers in Kenya have begun a nationwide strike over the stalled 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• The union is demanding adequate funding for public universities, addressing understaffing and heavy workloads, and implementing a new CBA.
• The strike has disrupted learning in public universities across the country, causing anxiety among students and stakeholders.