The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has issued a seven-day strike notice to the government, warning that academic activities in all public universities will be suspended from Wednesday, September 17, if their long-standing salary grievances are not addressed.
In a notice dated September 10, UASU Secretary-General Dr. Constantine Wasonga said lecturers have run out of patience after years of unfulfilled promises.
The union is demanding the payment of KSh 2.73 billion in arrears under the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement for the 2025/2026 financial year, implementation of the 2017–2021 CBA with outstanding arrears of about KSh 8.8 billion.
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As directed by the courts, and immediate negotiation and registration of the 2025–2029 CBA in line with the Recognition Agreement signed with the Inter-Public Universities Council Consultative Forum in 2019.
Dr. Wasonga accused the government of failing to honor both court rulings and negotiated agreements, saying the Ministry of Education had resorted to public relations instead of addressing the matter.
“The Ministry of Education has been playing PR, saying ‘we are going to pay.’ We will respond in the same style — the dons are back on the streets,” he warned.
The looming strike threatens to cripple learning, research, and examinations in more than 40 public universities and constituent colleges, potentially affecting over 500,000 students nationwide.