Kenyan university lecturers and non-teaching staff have escalated their long-running pay dispute with the government to Parliament, seeking urgent intervention in a four-year standoff that has disrupted learning across public universities.
Represented by the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and the Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu), the university staff presented a petition to the National Assembly through Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss. Uasu Secretary General Constantine Wesonga and Kusu’s Charles Mukhwaya highlighted what they termed government breach of the 2017–21 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), registered by the Employment and Labour Relations Court in 2019.
According to the unions, the total cost of implementing the CBA stands at Sh16.57 billion, inclusive of pensions and liabilities—far above the Sh8.8 billion estimated by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). They said the government released Sh6.6 billion in 2020 as partial settlement but failed to remit the remaining funds.
The dons accuse the state of ignoring multiple court rulings that ordered the full implementation of the CBA. They also demand the immediate commencement of talks for the 2025–29 CBA before resuming normal duties. “We will not return to work until the new agreement is discussed and concluded,” said the petitioners.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, however, told MPs that the government only owes Sh624 million, insisting that Sh7.2 billion had already been covered through annual salary increments. He added that under the 2021–25 CBA, Sh9.76 billion has already been disbursed.
The petition has been referred to the Departmental Committee on Education, chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, which is set to meet officials from the National Treasury and the Ministry of Education next week.
The industrial action, now in its fourth week, has crippled academic activities nationwide, with the government calling it illegal following a September 18 court ruling.
