University lecturers demand higher pay and allowances in new CBA proposal
UASU wants the retirement age for graduate assistants, tutorial fellows, assistant lecturers, and junior research fellows to be raised to 70 years.
University lecturers have submitted a fresh pay demand that, if approved, will see the lowest-paid graduate/research assistant earn a basic salary of Sh86,594 and the highest-paid professor take home Sh580,144 at full implementation.
The proposal is contained in the 2025-29 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) prepared by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU).
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The CBA also includes increased house, car, and commuter allowances, alongside other benefits for academic staff.
The proposal is expected to set the stage for another round of negotiations between UASU and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum.
This new demand comes just months after a nationwide strike disrupted learning in public universities last year. It also follows complaints that the 2021-2025 CBA has not been fully implemented, despite repeated strikes by lecturers pushing for its enforcement.
Proposed salary increments
If adopted, the pay rise will take effect from July 1, 2025, and will be spread until June 30, 2029. The current basic salary for a graduate/research assistant stands at Sh63,647 but will increase in stages, reaching Sh86,594 by 2028.
Assistant lecturers, tutorial fellows, and junior research fellows, who currently earn Sh107,872, will see their salaries increase gradually to Sh146,761 by July 2028.
Lecturers and research fellows, earning Sh121,928, will have their salaries adjusted to Sh165,884 in the same period.
Senior lecturers and senior research fellows in Grade 13A, currently earning Sh154,739, will have their salaries increased to Sh210,524 by 2028.
Associate professors in Grade 14A, currently at Sh193,182, will earn Sh262,824, while full professors, who now earn Sh224,631, will see their pay rise to Sh305,610 by the final year of the CBA.
"Annual increments shall be awarded across the grades from July 1, 2025, up to June 30, 2029, at an average rate of six per cent of basic salary, subject to respective salary grade ceiling," UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga stated in the proposal.
Allowance adjustments
The proposal also seeks a major revision of allowances, including house, car, and commuter allowances.
Professors and research professors are expected to receive a house allowance of Sh116,028, up from Sh73,715.
Associate professors will get Sh104,426, up from Sh66,344, while senior lecturers will receive Sh92,822, up from Sh58,972.
Lecturers and research fellows will have their house allowance increased from Sh55,286 to Sh87,020.
Graduate assistants, teaching assistants, and research assistants, currently receiving Sh35,383, will have their house allowance adjusted to Sh55,692.
Car and commuter allowances will also be revised, with all full-time lecturers, from graduate assistants to professors, set to receive a uniform allowance of Sh60,000 per month.
This is a sharp increase from the current amounts, which range from Sh20,000 to Sh50,000 depending on rank.
Part-time lecturers, who currently earn Sh15,000 in commuter allowances, will see their amount rise to Sh20,000.
Additional allowances include a professorial allowance, a book and ICT allowance, and an annual leave allowance for teaching staff.
Non-practice allowance
A proposed non-practice allowance will also be awarded to lecturers registered as professionals in various fields.
UASU is also pushing for a monthly risk allowance for lecturers exposed to hazardous work environments.
This includes staff working in medical and veterinary fields, engineering, environmental studies, agriculture, and scientific research laboratories.
The union has also proposed extraneous allowances for additional responsibilities, daily subsistence allowances, and death benefits.
Additionally, UASU wants the retirement age for graduate assistants, tutorial fellows, assistant lecturers, and junior research fellows to be raised to 70 years.
The union has called on the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to factor in these new demands in the 2025–26 budget, signalling a potential clash with the government over the affordability and sustainability of the proposed salary adjustments.
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