University of Eldoret Staff Join Nationwide Strike
At the University of Eldoret, union officials led workers in launching the strike and said they would remain out of classrooms until the issues surrounding the 2025–2029 CBA are addressed.
University of Eldoret lecturers and other university workers join a nationwide strike over delayed negotiation and implementation of the 2025–2029 CBA. Photo: Vipasho News.
By Robert Mutasi
Teaching and learning at the University of Eldoret have been disrupted after lecturers and other university workers joined a nationwide strike over delays in negotiating and implementing the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The industrial action began on Friday, October 2, 2026, bringing together members of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and other university workers’ unions.
At the University of Eldoret, union officials led workers in launching the strike and said they would remain out of classrooms until the issues surrounding the 2025–2029 CBA are addressed.
KUSU Principal Branch Secretary Robinson Kibet said the workers were protesting what he described as the government’s failure to honour commitments made to university employees.
Kibet said negotiations over the 2025–2029 CBA had taken too long, with workers repeatedly being asked to wait for the process to move forward. He said the unions want the agreement negotiated, registered and implemented without further delays.
The dispute extends beyond salaries, with the unions raising concerns about allowances, the financing of public universities, local collective bargaining agreements and the treatment of university employees compared with other public servants.
Kibet said university workers should receive similar treatment to other public servants in matters relating to salaries, benefits and employment conditions. He also raised concerns over the delayed implementation of a previous return-to-work formula that was expected to be finalised in February 2025.
He urged the Ministry of Education and other government agencies to intervene, warning that prolonged industrial action would affect students.
University of Eldoret UASU Chapter Chairperson Dr Jaluo Murunga said lecturers were also concerned about what he described as disparities in the treatment and financing of university workers.
Omurunga objected to proposals that universities should depend on students’ fees to finance lecturers’ salaries. He argued that lecturers are public servants whose salaries should be funded by the government through the Exchequer.
UASU officials also raised concerns over local CBA matters at the University of Eldoret. Dr Nyaveri Mugaka, delivering a message from UASU Secretary-General Dr Constantine Wasonga, said the university had longstanding issues that required attention.
Among them are commuter allowances, remuneration for academic staff and promotions. Mugaka claimed University of Eldoret employees receive about KSh8,000 in commuter allowance, while some staff in other universities receive as much as KSh35,000.
The unions are also calling for greater government funding of public universities. Mugaka said higher education should not increasingly depend on student fees because it is not a devolved function.
University of Eldoret UASU Treasurer Catherine Elima appealed to students and parents to understand the workers’ position. She said shifting responsibility for lecturers’ salaries to students could increase the financial burden on families.
The unions have vowed to continue the strike until the outstanding issues are addressed. Kibet and Omurunga said their members would await direction from their respective national leaderships before resuming work.
The unions have called on the government, Ministry of Education, National Treasury and university councils to return to negotiations and resolve the dispute.
The strike is expected to disrupt lectures, examinations, academic supervision and other university services as students in public universities await a resolution to the CBA dispute.
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