University lecturers vow to stay away from classes until 2017–2021 CBA fully paid

At least 30,000 public university employees have petitioned the National Assembly to intervene in a four-year salary dispute that has disrupted academic operations nationwide.

The workers, represented by the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU), are demanding that Parliament compel the National Treasury and the Ministry of Education to release the remaining funds for the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The petition, submitted by UASU National Secretary General Constantine Wesonga Opiyo and KUSU Secretary-General Charles Mukhwaya, details a protracted disagreement over unpaid salary arrears owed to about 30,000 staff across public universities.

According to the petition, the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) and UASU signed the 2017–2021 CBA on October 28, 2019, which was later registered by the Employment and Labour Relations Court.

“In order to fund the 2017–2021 CBAs, Parliament approved in May 2020 the Supplementary II Budget Estimates for the FY 2019/2020, which contained allocation for the CBA, and subsequently appropriated the funds under the Supplementary Appropriations Act, 2020,” reads the petition.

Arrears for basic salaries

The unions claim that on July 3, 2020, the National Treasury, through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, released Sh6.6 billion to public universities as part of the arrears for basic salaries. The remaining Sh2.2 billion was to be disbursed in the 2021/2022 Budget, but only Sh2 billion was allocated—leaving an outstanding balance of Sh200 million.

The petitioners argue that failure to implement the 2017–2021 CBA in full amounts to a breach of contract for all affected academic staff, including professors, lecturers, and non-teaching personnel.

“All public universities have not paid the arrears in full accruing under the 2017–2021 CBA,” reads the petition.

The unions first took the matter to court under Case No. ELRC CBA and 3 of 2020, and later to the Court of Appeal, which ruled in their favour and ordered partial implementation of the agreement.

Deal's total cost

They maintain that the total cost of fully implementing the deal is Sh16.57 billion, including pensions and liabilities—almost double the Sh8.8 billion estimated by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) at the request of the Treasury and the Ministry of Education.

Union officials also insist that the government must open talks for the next wage cycle.

“We will not return to work until even the new 2025–2029 CBA is discussed and agreed upon,” the petitioners said, linking the settlement of old arrears to the initiation of new negotiations.

Under Standing Order 225(2)(b), Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss formally committed the petition to the Departmental Committee on Education, chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, which is expected to meet Treasury and Education ministry officials next week.

Other Topics To Read

• Education
• University lecturers
• UASU
• Kusu
• Lecturers' strike
• lecturers CBA
• University lecturers vow to stay away from classes until 2017–2021 CBA fully paid
• Headlines

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has, however, disputed the unions’ figures, insisting that the government owes lecturers Sh624 million, not Sh7.9 billion as claimed.

Ogamba said the ongoing industrial action—now in its fourth week—is illegal, but maintained that the ministry remains open to “objective discussions” on how to settle the outstanding amount.

He added that while lecturers acknowledge receiving Sh8.8 billion between 2020 and 2021 under the 2017–2021 CBA, they continue to insist that Sh7.9 billion remains unpaid.