Shadrack Nyakoe
Public universities are facing renewed industrial tension after the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) jointly petitioned the government to clear KSh 7.9 billion in unpaid arrears from the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and to commence negotiations for the next phase covering 2025–2029.
In separate petitions addressed to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, and the Clerk of the National Assembly, the two unions expressed frustration over the government’s inaction, warning that continued delays could trigger industrial unrest in public universities.
The unions are demanding the immediate release of KSh 7,974,630,447 — the outstanding balance from the previous CBA — arguing that the government’s failure to remit the funds violates the contractual rights of over 30,000 university employees, including lecturers, professors, and non-teaching staff.
According to the petition, the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) on January 15, 2021, ruled that the initial allocation of KSh 8.8 billion approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) was inadequate, as it excluded annual increments and pension obligations. The Court instead adopted the computation by the Joint Implementation Committee, placing the total CBA cost at KSh 16,574,630,447.
The unions note that the Court of Appeal reaffirmed the ruling on March 28, 2025, and that the Attorney General subsequently advised the Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research on April 10, 2025, to fully implement the judgment without further delay.
Beyond the arrears, UASU and KUSU accuse the government of failing to initiate talks for the new 2025–2029 CBA, which were legally required to begin by January 31, 2025. The unions submitted their proposals to the Inter Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) on February 3, 2025, but no discussions have taken place.
The petitions, signed by Dr. Constantine Wasonga Opiyo (UASU) and Dr. Charles Mukhwaya (KUSU), urge the Ministries of Education and Treasury to act swiftly to avert disruptions in higher learning institutions.
“Timely settlement of arrears and structured dialogue on the new CBA are vital to restoring
