Lecturers in Kenya's public universities are set to return to class on Monday after a four-week strike that disrupted learning, teaching, and research. The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum reached a Ksh.20 billion agreement on the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The deal brings an end to the industrial action that began on October 2, with lecturers protesting delays in implementing the CBA, outstanding salary adjustments, and other labour grievances.
The Ksh.20 billion funding package will be disbursed in three tranches over three financial years, starting with Ksh.6.7 billion in the 2026/2027 financial year. UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga stated that the agreement was a compromise, balancing the plight of students with the rights of academic staff to dignified working conditions, collective bargaining, and pension security. The deal includes a 3.5 per cent annual increase in basic salaries for four years, backdated to July 2025, and an automatic annual increment of five per cent.
Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala emphasized that the agreement paves the way for the immediate resumption of academic programmes across universities. The deal also provides for increased commuter, leave, passage, and baggage allowances, as well as payment of accumulated salary and allowance arrears. Lecturers who participated in the strike will not face victimization, with all disciplinary action initiated during the industrial action deemed withdrawn.
Contract staff have been assured that their participation in the strike will not prejudice contract renewals. UASU Secretary General Wesonga announced that the strike is over, and lecturers will return to class on Monday. The two sides have also agreed to implement programmes to recover the four weeks of lost learning time following the end of the strike.
The agreement was reached after negotiations between UASU and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum. The deal is part of an ongoing process to address the concerns of lecturers and improve working conditions in public universities. Dr. Inyangala emphasized the government's commitment to resolving the issues that led to the strike.
The strike had a significant impact on students, who missed four weeks of learning. The agreement to implement programmes to recover lost learning time is expected to help mitigate the effects of the strike. UASU and the government have expressed their commitment to working together to ensure that academic programmes continue without disruption.
The Ksh.20 billion agreement is a significant investment in the education sector, demonstrating the government's commitment to improving working conditions for lecturers and enhancing the quality of education in public universities. The deal is expected to have a positive impact on the academic calendar and the overall learning environment.
Key points
- Lecturers in Kenya's public universities end four-week strike after Ksh.20 billion deal with government on 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
- The deal includes a 3.5 per cent annual increase in basic salaries for four years, backdated to July 2025.
- The agreement provides for increased commuter, leave, passage, and baggage allowances, as well as payment of accumulated salary and allowance arrears.
