Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has appealed to university lecturers to return to the classroom, assuring their unions that the government is committed to addressing outstanding issues surrounding the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Ogamba made the appeal on Monday during the World Teachers’ Day celebrations, shortly after university lecturers began a nationwide strike over disagreements surrounding the implementation and negotiation of their current CBA. The CS said the government had demonstrated its commitment to settling previous obligations to university staff and would maintain the same approach when dealing with the latest agreement.
Government cites payment of previous CBA arrears
Ogamba said outstanding arrears arising from the 2017–2021 and 2022–2025 CBAs had been settled. He said the government was prepared to maintain the same commitment as discussions on the 2025–2029 CBA continue.
The CS also said the government would work towards timely negotiations and the conclusion of future CBAs to minimise disputes between the state and university staff unions. Ogamba urged lecturers to avoid disrupting learning while negotiations continue, arguing that the issues raised can be addressed through dialogue. He further called on university staff unions to respect existing court orders and resume teaching.
Lecturers reject proposed CBA settlement
The strike involves members of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU). The unions declared the strike after negotiations with the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) failed to produce an agreement acceptable to the lecturers.
University staff have objected to proposals submitted to the Ministry of Education and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), saying the recommendations were made without adequate negotiations with their representatives. The unions have maintained that salaries, working conditions and other employment terms should be settled through a negotiated CBA rather than through government directives or circulars.
They also rejected a proposed KSh9.76 billion settlement, arguing that the amount had not been agreed upon through negotiations. The lecturers have consequently accused the government of making unilateral decisions on their remuneration and employment conditions.
Teachers push for shorter CBA review cycle
The dispute among university lecturers comes as teachers under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) continue pushing for changes to the CBA review cycle. Teachers want the current four-year period for reviewing their agreements with TSC reduced to two years. President William Ruto addressed the issue during the same World Teachers’ Day celebrations at Kasarani, saying the government would consider the proposal after the current 2025–2029 CBA expires. Ruto said the government could return to a two-year review framework once the existing agreement is completed.
Ruto defends current teachers’ CBA
The President noted that the current CBA, signed in July 2025, provides for phased increases in teachers’ basic salaries over its four-year duration. The first phase was implemented in July 2025, while the second phase took effect in July 2026.
Ruto also said the government had allocated an additional KSh8.1 billion in the 2026/2027 financial year to support implementation of the agreement. The government now faces pressure from both university lecturers and teachers over the implementation and review of their respective employment agreements, with dialogue expected to remain central to resolving the disputes.
