Lecturers Dismiss Government’s KSh2.5 Billion Offer as Strike Bites Public Universities
“the dons said the government has failed to honour CBAs dating back to 2017 and has repeatedly reneged on signed return-to-work agreements”.
Lecturers in Eldoret declare nationwide strike during a press briefing in Eldoret — photo by Kemuma Achieng.
Public university lecturers have dismissed as “hot air” the government’s call to end their nationwide strike after Treasury announced the release of KSh 2.5 billion to implement the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Led by Dr. Busolo Wekesa, Secretary-General of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Moi University chapter, the dons said the government has failed to honour CBAs dating back to 2017 and has repeatedly reneged on signed return-to-work agreements.
“We will not heed the ministry’s call until the government is honest in implementing our CBA — not just making promises,” Dr. Wekesa said. “Since signing the return-to-work agreement last year, the government has been non-committal. Phase Two hasn’t been honoured; medical cover has lapsed; pensions and promotions ignored.”
The lecturers insist that the government must release all pending arrears and commit to timely negotiation and registration of the upcoming 2025–2029 CBA to prevent recurring industrial unrest. They also want the immediate restoration of their medical insurance cover, which they say has lapsed for months, forcing staff to pay hospital bills out of pocket.
According to UASU, unpaid arrears under the 2017-2021 CBA remain outstanding despite court rulings, and Phase Two of the current CBA has not been implemented. They also accuse universities of diverting salary allocations to other uses, leaving workers frustrated and desperate.
The Ministry of Education maintains that Treasury has already disbursed KSh 2.5 billion to address the grievances, but union leaders counter that the money has not reflected in staff bank accounts and does not cover the billions still owed.
“We have been here before. Announcements are made, but nothing changes in our payslips,” Dr. Wekesa added.
The ongoing strike, which began this week across multiple public universities, has left more than half a million students staring at an uncertain academic calendar. Parents and students have expressed concern about disruption of studies, but lecturers argue they too are parents who cannot afford school fees or healthcare for their children while working without pay.
UASU’s demands echo those raised in earlier strikes, which forced the government to sign the 2017–2021 and 2021–2025 CBAs after protracted negotiations. Lecturers say they want to avoid a repeat of such crises by ensuring the 2025–2029 CBA is concluded and implemented on time.
For now, the industrial action continues, with union leaders insisting they will not return to work until funds are disbursed, arrears paid, and a clear roadmap for future agreements established.
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