As the nationwide lecturers’ strike stretches into its third week, university staff unions have vowed not to return to work until their demands concerning the full implementation of existing and upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) are addressed.
In a joint press briefing held in Nairobi on Wednesday, University Academic Staff Union (UASU) National Chairperson Grace Nyongesa declared that no talks were currently taking place between the unions, university management, or the government.
“We shall remain out of the classrooms until the issues raised are fully addressed. There are no negotiations happening at the moment,” Nyongesa stated.
She demanded the immediate and full implementation of the 2021–2025 CBA, adding that negotiations for the 2025–2029 agreement must begin without delay.
“We are tired of negotiating CBAs at the end of their cycles and chasing payments years later. This time, we want the 2021–2025 CBA implemented in full and the 2025–2029 CBA negotiations to begin now. If not, the strike will continue,” she insisted.
Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) Secretary-General Dr. Charles Mukhwaya accused vice chancellors and university councils of spreading misinformation regarding the strike.
He cited a 2025 Attorney General advisory and a court ruling directing universities to honor the CBAs.
“Vice chancellors and councils are misleading the public. The court ruled that our CBAs must be honoured there’s no room to negotiate a court judgment,” Mukhwaya said. “Refusing to pay amounts to contempt of court.”
He also called on union members to resist what he described as intimidation tactics from university administrators.
“We urge our members to stay firm and not be threatened. Failure to comply with the court’s order is contempt,” he warned.
Lecturers are demanding the settlement of sh 7.9 billion in arrears from the 2017–2021 CBA and insist that talks for the 2025–2029 CBA commence immediately.
The strike has led to a near-total shutdown of learning in public universities, mirroring a similar disruption last year that delayed academic calendars well into the following year.
Some university students have threatened to stage protests in solidarity with their lecturers if the impasse is not resolved soon.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba last week warned that lecturers who defy a court order to return to work risk disciplinary action.
He referenced a High Court order that suspended the strike and noted that the government had already released sh 2.5 billion toward implementing Phase 2 of the 2021–2025 CBA.
“The Treasury has released the funds to address the lecturers’ grievances. Failure to resume duty puts the lecturers in contempt of court,” the CS said.
Despite the government’s move, union leaders maintain that the amount released is only a fraction of the outstanding obligations and does not address all their concerns.
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