The long-standing dispute between the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenyan government over lecturers’ pay appears to be nearing resolution. The government has agreed to release Sh4.3 billion as an initial payment toward the Sh9.7 billion requested by UASU for the pay increment.
Despite this initial agreement, UASU Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga has made it clear that the strike will not end until the government provides a formal written commitment regarding the payment of the remaining Sh5.4 billion.
In a recent meeting with the National Assembly Committee on Education, Dr. Wasonga explained that while the union is willing to accept the Sh4.3 billion upfront, the government must clearly outline how the balance will be paid in the upcoming years. The union has proposed that the remaining balance be paid in two installments of Sh2.7 billion each, in the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 financial years.
“We are accepting the Sh4.3 billion, but the government must give us a written commitment on how it will pay the remaining Sh5.4 billion,” Dr. Wasonga stated. “We will not call off the strike until we have a clear and binding agreement on the full payment.”
The strike, which has been ongoing for three weeks, has caused significant disruption to the academic calendar, affecting students and staff alike. The union’s concerns were initially triggered when the government disputed the pay raise calculations, which led to the suspension of negotiations and the eventual strike.
During the discussions, attended by key officials from the Ministry of Education and the Inter-Public Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), it was agreed that further negotiations would take place to resolve other urgent matters in the education sector.
Parliamentary Committee Chair Julius Melly urged all parties to reach an agreement soon to allow students to return to their studies. “It is in the interest of the nation that the strike is called off so that students can resume learning,” Melly remarked.
The lecturers’ strike began in October after a failed negotiation process, despite a return-to-work formula being signed in September. However, due to a lack of implementation, the strike continued, with UASU members demanding that the government fulfill its promises regarding salary adjustments.
“We know the government listens when under pressure. Our members are determined to continue the strike until the full payment is made,” Dr. Wasonga reiterated.