The government has directed university lecturers to immediately end their ongoing nationwide strike, saying the industrial action is unlawful and disruptive to learning in public universities.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, in a statement on Thursday, said the Employment and Labour Relations Court had issued an order stopping the strike pending a legally sanctioned conciliation process.
He stressed that the lecturers’ unions must comply with the directive to avoid further disruption of academic programmes.
“The Government has already fully paid the sum of Sh2.73 billion in fulfilment of its obligations under the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The unions were duly notified of this payment before the start of the ongoing industrial action,” Ogamba said, adding that hundreds of thousands of students had been affected since the strike began.
Ogamba said the government was ready for constructive dialogue with the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and other unions but insisted that the strike must first be called off.
“We therefore call upon the University Staff Unions to call off the current strike in compliance with the order of the court, to allow room for the conciliation process. The government remains open to constructive dialogue to safeguard staff welfare and ensure seamless operations in our universities,” he stated.
UASU, however, has vowed to continue with the strike until all pending issues are addressed. The union is demanding that the government pay Sh8.8 billion in arrears from the 2017–2021 CBA and also begin negotiations for the 2025–2029 agreement.
The lecturers argue that despite several return-to-work agreements signed in 2024 and earlier this year, the government has repeatedly failed to honour its commitments. They point out that while the 2021–2025 CBA, valued at Sh9.7 billion, was to be paid in three instalments, only the first has been disbursed.
The dispute has caused widespread disruption in Kenya’s 35 public universities, with lecturers warning that the delays have left them financially strained and derailed academic calendars.
Moi University staff joined the nationwide action, accusing the institution of failing to release any payments despite government disbursements.
“This is not new money; it was promised and is long overdue. Some universities have paid, but Moi University has not released a single shilling. Payment must be made now,” UASU Moi University Chapter Secretary Busolo Wekesa said.
Wekesa also decried the university’s failure to provide medical cover for staff over the past four months, saying the neglect had already resulted in fatalities. The union further accused Moi University of diverting funds meant for staff arrears.
The strike, which has drawn support from all 41 public universities, marks the latest in a series of industrial actions over delayed payments and government underfunding of higher education.
