Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has dismissed claims that his ministry is responsible for the ongoing public university lecturers’ strike, instead pointing fingers at the Ministries of Education and Labour.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Saturday, Mbadi clarified that the National Treasury had already disbursed all funds agreed upon under the lecturers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). He noted that for the 2025/26 financial year, the Treasury committed to releasing Ksh2.7 billion, which was fully disbursed at the start of the financial year even though it was meant to be spread out over several months.
“The question of how much was actually owed is something I’ve only heard about; I don’t have the full facts. That matter lies with the Ministries of Education and Labour,” Mbadi explained.
The CS further questioned the timing of the strike, saying the funds being cited by the lecturers date back several years. “From what I understand, there were amounts that were supposed to have been paid between 2017 and 2021. I don’t know what the lecturers were waiting for if those payments were due in 2021,” he added.
Despite distancing the Treasury from the impasse, Mbadi assured the public that the government was committed to resolving the issue. He said relevant agencies were collaborating to establish the exact amount owed and chart a way forward.
The lecturers’ strike, which has now lasted nearly a month, has crippled learning in public universities nationwide. The dispute revolves around Ksh7.9 billion in unpaid salaries. While the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) maintains that Ksh7.2 billion has already been paid through annual increments, the government insists that only Ksh624 million remains outstanding.
As the standoff persists, thousands of university students remain affected, with no clear timeline for the resumption of normal learning activities.
