The government and university lecturers have reached a verbal agreement worth Ksh20 billion to end a four-week strike that has disrupted learning in public universities across Kenya.
The agreement, announced on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, is expected to pave the way for lecturers to resume teaching on Monday, November 2, following weeks of stalled negotiations over their salary demands and the implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary-General Constantine Wesonga confirmed that the two sides had reached an agreement on the financial component of the dispute, with formal signing scheduled for Friday, October 30.
Also Read
“We have a deal on the financials. Tomorrow our technical team is going to sit down to put what we have agreed on on pen and paper,” Wesonga said.
According to the union official, the technical teams will document the agreed terms before the unions formally sign the deal with the government.
The unions are also expected to review the proposed allocations to establish how much individual members of staff will receive under the new agreement.
Wesonga maintained that the latest offer was the outcome of negotiations between the government and the unions rather than a figure imposed on university workers.
“Today we have agreed on a figure we have negotiated with the government, not a figure imposed on the unions,” he asserted.
Government raises offer to Ksh20 billion The breakthrough followed several rounds of negotiations between the government and representatives of university workers, with the two sides previously disagreeing over the amount allocated to address lecturers’ demands.
The government had maintained that it could not exceed Ksh12 billion, an offer that the unions rejected, arguing that it would not adequately address their salary concerns.
On Monday, October 26, an inter-ministerial committee reportedly presented a revised offer of Ksh11.96 billion. The unions rejected the proposal, noting that it was lower than the earlier Ksh12 billion offer.
The lecturers argued that the Ksh12 billion proposal would translate into an increase of approximately three per cent in basic salaries, which they considered insufficient.
The government’s decision to raise its offer to Ksh20 billion on Wednesday provided the breakthrough needed to reach a verbal agreement.
The final financial terms, including the distribution of the funds among university staff, are expected to be documented during the technical meeting ahead of Friday’s signing.
Four-week strike paralyses public universities Lecturers affiliated with the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) began their strike on October 2, 2026.
The industrial action disrupted teaching and other academic activities across 35 public institutions, leaving students uncertain about when normal learning would resume.
The unions had called for fresh negotiations and the implementation of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreements, which cover employment terms and remuneration for university staff.
Several rounds of negotiations failed to produce an agreement, prolonging the strike and increasing pressure on both parties to find a lasting solution.
The latest deal is expected to bring the standoff closer to an end, although the formal signing and communication of the final terms remain key steps in concluding the dispute.
Students protest prolonged university shutdown The prolonged disruption has also sparked frustration among students, many of whom have been unable to attend classes as scheduled.
University of Nairobi students took to the streets earlier in the week to protest the continued closure of academic activities, with demonstrators blocking Waiyaki Way twice.
The protests reflected growing concerns over the impact of the strike on academic calendars, examinations and graduation timelines.
A return to class on November 2 would offer relief to students who have spent weeks waiting for the dispute to be resolved. However, individual universities may still need to communicate revised academic schedules to account for the lost teaching time.
High-level talks deliver breakthrough The agreement followed discussions involving union leaders, university representatives and senior government officials responsible for education, public service and national finances.
Those involved included Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Principal Secretary for Internal Security Raymond Omollo.
The negotiations focused on finding a financial settlement that the government could support while addressing the unions’ demands under the applicable collective bargaining arrangements.
With the parties now having reached a verbal agreement, attention shifts to Friday’s scheduled signing and the finalisation of the payment arrangements.
If the agreement is formally signed as planned and the unions call off the strike, public universities could resume academic activities on Monday, November 2, ending weeks of uncertainty for lecturers and students.
The implementation of the deal will be closely watched by university staff and students as institutions work towards restoring normal academic operations.
📢 Have a story? Tell us!
FMFIX Hub wants to hear from you. Send us your stories, videos, and photos.