University lecturers across Kenya are set to return to classrooms on Monday, November 2, after the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) reached a KSh 20 billion financial agreement with the government to end a strike that has disrupted public university education for nearly four weeks. The strike, which began on October 2, was over stalled Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations. UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga made the announcement on Wednesday, October 28, following a three-hour meeting with Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.
The KSh 20 billion settlement falls well below the KSh 98 billion the union originally demanded but represents a significant jump from the government's successive offers of KSh 9.7 billion, KSh 12 billion, and KSh 11.96 billion, all of which the union rejected. Wasonga was at pains to stress that the final figure was arrived at through genuine negotiation, crediting Ogamba with steering the negotiations to a conclusion. He noted that the minister had personally requested to take charge of the process and had delivered on that request.
The strike began at midnight on October 2 after negotiations on the 2025–2029 CBA collapsed. UASU had accused the government of failing to honour a Return-to-Work Formula signed on November 5, 2025, and of not presenting a financial counter-proposal despite months of talks. The union had also sought basic salary increases of between 36% and 68%, depending on job grade, alongside improved allowances and benefits.
Wasonga said the union would formally call off the industrial action on Friday, October 30, at 3 pm, when the deal is expected to be signed. A technical team from both sides was scheduled to meet on October 29 to commit the agreed terms to paper. He urged students to begin making their way back to campus, assuring them that normal teaching would resume early next week.
The agreement covers basic salaries and allowances under the 2025-2029 CBA. Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala added that the government had paid lecturers KSh 18.6 billion over the preceding two years. Wasonga acknowledged the contribution of National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo in unlocking the deadlock.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba had previously indicated that the government had already cleared salary arrears under the 2017-2021 and 2021-2025 CBAs. The deal has been hailed as a significant breakthrough, bringing relief to students and lecturers who have been affected by the strike.
With the strike set to end, students are expected to return to campus on Monday, November 2, and normal teaching is expected to resume. The Universities Academic Staff Union has assured students that lessons will resume as usual, bringing an end to the nearly four-week disruption in public university education.
Key points
- University lecturers in Kenya end 26-day strike after agreeing to a KSh 20 billion deal with the government.
- The deal covers basic salaries and allowances under the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
- Students are expected to return to campus on Monday, November 2, with normal teaching set to resume.
