NAIROBI, Kenya — Public University lecturers and staff have called off their two-month-long nationwide strike after reaching an agreement with the government on the payment of billions owed under a long-disputed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Staff unions, including the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), and the Kenya Union Of Domestic Hotels Educational Institutions Hospitals & Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA), have signed a return-to-work formula outlining the full settlement of the Ksh 7.9 billion owed from the 2017-2021 CBA.
Two-instalment payment plan
The UASU Secretary General, Constantine Wasonga, confirmed that the unions accepted a two-instalment payment plan, which is slated to be completed by June 2026.
Mr. Wasonga expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the negotiations:
“We have agreed to be paid in two instalments – one between November and December at a cost of 3.8 billion shillings, and the second in June next year. We are happy that we have secured the whole amount,” he said.
This acceptance marks a significant shift from the unions’ earlier hardline stance, where SG Wasonga had previously insisted that the entire amount must be paid in a lump sum before striking lecturers would resume their duties.
Government’s financial stance
The breakthrough came after the government emphasized its current financial constraints.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi had previously stated on Tuesday that the government was cash-strapped and could not foot the entire Ksh 7.9 billion debt at once, urging the lecturers to accept the installment payments.
In addition to resolving the outstanding debt, the unions also signed a framework agreement for the negotiation of the upcoming 2025–2029 CBA, paving the way for future industrial harmony.
