Nairobi, Kenya – September 17, 2025
Learning in public universities is expected to come to a standstill after lecturers, through the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), announced the commencement of a nationwide strike. The industrial action began at midnight following the government’s failure to meet financial obligations arising from past and current Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
According to UASU, lecturers are demanding the release of KSh 2.37 billion for the second phase of the 2021-2025 CBA, alongside KSh 7.9 billion still owed under the 2017-2021 agreement. The union has also called on the government to immediately begin negotiations for the 2025-2029 CBA and ensure it is duly registered.
UASU Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga accused state agencies of frustrating dialogue, saying that meetings convened by the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) and relevant ministries had failed to yield progress. He argued that officials had shown little commitment, instead offering “empty promises” that do not address the welfare of teaching staff.
The union further faulted the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), the Ministry of Education, and the National Treasury for allegedly ignoring court orders that directed full implementation and budgeting for previous CBAs. “Court orders cannot be negotiated away. Lecturers will not continue to provide services on the basis of broken promises,” Dr. Wasonga stated.
The strike threatens to disrupt academic calendars across all public universities and constituent colleges, leaving thousands of students in limbo. Many institutions had just reopened for the September semester, with ongoing exams and lectures now set to be affected.
This latest strike comes less than a year after lecturers staged a similar nationwide protest in November 2024. That action was suspended following assurances from government that payments would be made in phases. However, UASU maintains that the agreed schedule has not been honoured, forcing lecturers to once again resort to industrial action.
As the stalemate deepens, attention now turns to whether government agencies will move swiftly to address the lecturers’ demands or risk a prolonged shutdown of public universities. For now, the dons insist that their tools will remain down until tangible action is taken.