Striking academics maintain their position as the Treasury announces a Sh2.5b allocation
Strike by Lecturers Across Kenya's Public Universities Over Unpaid Arrears and Unresolved Issues
Lecturers in Kenya's 35 public universities have embarked on a strike, disrupting academic calendars, in response to years of delayed implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs). The strike, backed by 41 public universities, is the latest in a series of industrial actions.
Under the 2017-2021 CBA, lecturers are owed Sh8.8 billion in arrears. This debt, combined with the rest of the payments under the 2021-2025 CBA that have been repeatedly delayed, has caused financial strain for thousands of lecturers.
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has decided to proceed with the strike until the money is reflected in lecturers' accounts and the government addresses two unresolved issues. The first issue is the payment of the Sh8.8 billion arrears from the 2017-2021 CBA. The second issue is the start of talks for the 2025-2029 CBA.
The dispute between UASU and the government is not new. UASU has accused the government of breaking earlier return-to-work deals that temporarily ended strikes in 2024 and early 2025. The Treasury, however, has asked UASU to suspend the strike while funds are processed.
In a move towards resolution, the government has agreed to pay the Sh8.8 billion arrears from the 2017-2021 collective agreement before starting negotiations for the 2025-2029 collective agreement. The Treasury has also released Sh2.5 billion to settle part of lecturers' salary arrears.
The strike is testing the government's commitment to higher education funding and staff welfare. UASU is aiming to address the government's perceived lack of commitment, as the delays in CBA payments have caused disruptions in academic calendars.
The strike is part of a series of industrial actions that have occurred due to the government's failure to address the Sh8.8 billion arrears from the 2017-2021 CBA and the start of talks for the 2025-2029 CBA. The strike, if not resolved soon, could have far-reaching implications for the academic year in Kenya's public universities.
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