CS Ogamba renews call for university staff to resume work
On the contentious 2017-21 arrears, unions initially cited Sh7.94 billion, while the Salaries and Remuneration Commission placed the figure at Sh624 million.
The government has renewed its call for university staff to return to work, urging lecturers and support personnel to end the ongoing strike that has disrupted academic programmes across public institutions.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the State has already taken substantial steps to meet salary and collective bargaining obligations, and now seeks cooperation from unions to resume negotiations.
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Since mid-September, staff in universities nationwide have walked out, demanding settlement of unpaid dues under the 2017–21 collective bargaining agreement (CBA), completion of payments for the 2021–25 cycle, and the start of talks for the 2025–29 agreement.
Ogamba said the government has disbursed Sh4.3 billion as the first instalment for the 2021-25 CBA and Sh2.73 billion as the second, with the remaining Sh2.73 billion scheduled for payment next year.
On the contentious 2017-21 arrears, unions initially cited Sh7.94 billion, while the Salaries and Remuneration Commission placed the figure at Sh624 million.
The government later commissioned an independent audit to reconcile these figures, which confirmed a verified balance of Sh7.76 billion.
Following the audit, Treasury approved a phased settlement plan, initially in three instalments, later reduced to two.
“The government initially offered to pay the verified balance of Sh7.76 billion in three phases. In further compromise yesterday, the Government offered to pay the verified balance in two phases,” Ogamba said, noting that the improved offer was still rejected by the unions.
Union leaders have insisted that only a full one-time payment would end the strike, saying further delays would be unfair to employees who have already waited years for their dues.
Ogamba expressed regret over the unions’ refusal, stressing that the government has acted transparently and in line with available resources.
“This position is regrettable given that most of the concerns raised by the unions have been fully addressed, and a roadmap for addressing the remaining ones has been presented with obvious goodwill and compromises on the part of the Government,” he said.
The CS appealed to university staff to act in the interest of students and the wider education system.
“We therefore appeal to the university staff's sense of patriotism and duty of care to our students, that they resume work in their respective universities and allow opportunity for constructive negotiations towards a mutually acceptable and sustainable solution,” Ogamba said.
The CS also instructed the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum under the Federation of Kenya Employers to continue discussions with unions, while thanking students for their patience.
"We commend students across our public universities for their patience during this period. We urge them to remain patient as we work to ensure operations resume soon,” he added.
With the stalemate continuing, the focus is now on whether the unions will reconsider their position or the impasse will further prolong the disruption of learning in the country’s largest higher education institutions.
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