Government Orders End to University Lecturers’ Strike Amid Court Ruling
The Kenyan government has directed university lecturers to immediately cease their ongoing strike, following a court order issued on Thursday that suspends the industrial action pending a conciliation process. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced that the government has fulfilled its financial obligations under the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) by disbursing Sh2.73 billion. He stated that the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) was informed of these payments before the strike began, emphasizing that the industrial action has significantly disrupted teaching and learning, impacting hundreds of thousands of students across the country.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court issued an order halting the strike to allow for a legally mandated conciliation process. Ogamba urged UASU to comply with the court’s directive and call off the strike to facilitate constructive dialogue. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to engaging in discussions to address staff welfare and ensure uninterrupted operations in Kenya’s public universities.
Despite the government’s directive, UASU remains steadfast, vowing to continue the strike until outstanding payments and unresolved issues are addressed. The union is demanding the settlement of Sh8.8 billion in arrears from the 2017-2021 CBA and the initiation of negotiations for the 2025-2029 CBA. The 2021-2025 CBA, valued at Sh9.7 billion, was to be paid in three instalments, but only the first has been disbursed, leaving significant portions unpaid. UASU has accused the government of failing to honor previous return-to-work agreements that temporarily paused strikes in 2024 and early 2025, further fueling tensions.
The ongoing dispute highlights persistent delays in implementing CBAs, leaving thousands of lecturers financially strained and disrupting academic calendars across Kenya’s 35 public universities. The strike, supported by all 41 public universities, underscores long-standing grievances over the government’s commitment to higher education funding and staff welfare.
At Moi University, lecturers have joined the strike, asserting that industrial action is the only way to compel the government and university management to honor their commitments. UASU Moi University Chapter Secretary Busolo Wekesa emphasized that only the first tranche of the 2021-2025 CBA has been implemented, while arrears from the 2017-2021 agreement remain unpaid. He stressed that these funds are not new but long overdue, noting that while some universities have made payments, Moi University has not released any funds. Wekesa also raised concerns about the university’s failure to provide medical cover for staff over the past four months, warning that this neglect has led to loss of life. Additionally, UASU accused Moi University of diverting funds intended for staff arrears, despite government disbursements.
The current strike marks the latest in a series of industrial actions that have repeatedly challenged the government’s approach to addressing the needs of university staff and ensuring the stability of higher education in Kenya.