(Nairobi) – Lecturers have called off their months-long strike after securing a KSh 9.7 billion deal with the government, ensuring full implementation of their 2021–25 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Lecturers across Kenya have called off their strike after reaching an agreement with the government and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) to implement the 2021–25 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The agreement, valued at KSh 9.7 billion (approximately $64.7 million), ends a months-long standoff that had paralyzed learning at public universities and constituent colleges since September.
The National Treasury committed to allocating KSh 4.3 billion ($28.7 million) in the 2024–25 financial year under Supplementary Estimates II. The remaining KSh 5.4 billion ($36 million) will be disbursed in two equal instalments of KSh 2.7 billion ($18 million) during the 2026–27 financial year.
| Key Details of the Agreement | Amount (KSh) | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 Financial Year Allocation | 4.3 billion | 28.7 million |
| 2026–27 Financial Year Allocation (Two Instalments) | 5.4 billion | 36 million |
| Total Value of the Deal | 9.7 billion | 64.7 million |
UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga urged lecturers to prepare to resume teaching on Monday. He also emphasized the importance of recovering lost academic time to ensure quality education for students.
“You should prepare to arrange with the university management and Senate to cover the time lost so that the students can get quality education,” Wasonga said. Measures such as extending teaching hours and adding weekend classes will be adopted.
The breakthrough followed intense negotiations involving the ministries of Education, Labour, and Treasury, alongside representatives from IPUCCF and three major unions: the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, and Hospitals Workers (KUDHEIHA).
The unions had initially refused to call off the strike without a written commitment on how the remaining KSh 5.4 billion would be paid. The strike persisted even after the government pledged to disburse KSh 4.3 billion, as lecturers demanded clarity on the full amount.
On Thursday, UASU maintained its position that the government must provide a concrete roadmap for the remaining funds.
“The strike is on until we get the KSh 9.7 billion. We have taken the KSh 4.3 billion, and the government must tell us how we are getting the KSh 5.4 billion—and it will not be done verbally,” Wasonga stated during negotiations.
The resolution marks a significant relief for students, parents, and university administrations, who have been adversely affected by the prolonged disruption. Efforts will now focus on restoring normalcy and recovering the lost academic period.