Lecturers in 41 public universities issue 7-day strike notice over unpaid CBAs
UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga said the government had failed to fulfil negotiated and registered CBAs, leaving lecturers with no choice but to withdraw their services in all public universities.
Lecturers from 41 public universities have accused the government of failing to honour Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), saying arrears worth Sh3.27 billion have accumulated despite court orders directing payment.
The dons, through their union, the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), have now issued a seven-day strike notice that could see learning in public universities grind to a halt from September 17.
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On Wednesday, UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga said the government had failed to fulfil negotiated and registered CBAs, leaving lecturers with no choice but to withdraw their services in all public universities.
“CBA arrears have accumulated to Sh3.27 billion. This is one of the CBAs that have not been honoured. The court had issued a directive for more funds to be allocated to cater for the CBAs, but the government has not yet complied,” Wasonga told reporters.
He added that the union expected the funds to be released before the start of the September academic term.
“We expected the monies to be paid before the onset of the September term,” he said.
The union is also demanding immediate negotiations for the 2025/2026 CBA, noting that “other education sector members have already negotiated their CBAs and are enjoying the benefits.”
Wasonga warned that lecturers will not resume duty until the issues are fully addressed.
“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 added.
In its strike notice dated September 10, UASU said its decision was grounded in law, citing Article 41 (1) and (2)(d) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, which guarantees the right to fair labour practices, including the right to strike.
The union also referenced Section 76 of the Labour Relations Act, 2007, which allows strikes where disputes over employment terms remain unresolved after conciliation, provided a seven-day written notice is given to the concerned parties and the Cabinet Secretary.
“Therefore, the Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU) hereby issues a seven (7) days written strike notice with effect from the date of this letter to all Councils of Public Universities and Constituent Colleges,” read the notice in part.
In the strike notice, UASU accused the government of failing to implement several agreements. The union pointed out that arrears from the 2021–2025 Phase Two CBA, amounting to Sh2.73 billion for the 2025/2026 financial year, remain unpaid.
It further faulted the government for failing to negotiate, conclude, register and implement the 2025–2029 National CBA, despite a Recognition Agreement signed on October 28, 2019, between UASU and the Inter-Public Universities’ Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF).
Additionally, the union said the 2017–2021 CBA had not been honoured, even after the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC CBA Nos. 1, 2, and 3 of 2020) directed the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), together with IPUCCF, the Ministry of Education, and the Treasury, to make the necessary budgetary allocations.
UASU warned that its members across all public universities and constituent colleges will withdraw their labour beginning Wednesday, September 17, 2025, and will not return to work until their demands are met.
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