The government has released Ksh. 2.5 billion to settle part of the payments owed to public university lecturers under the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreements. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed the release of funds on Monday, saying the payment was meant to demonstrate the government’s commitment to honoring its obligations. He urged the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) to withdraw its seven-day strike notice and allow learning to continue in the country’s public institutions.
The strike notice had been issued last week by UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga, who accused the government of failing to meet its side of the deal. According to the union, lecturers are still owed Ksh. 3.27 billion in arrears despite a court ruling directing the government to allocate funds for the settlement. Wasonga had declared that all public universities would suspend lectures if the money was not paid, a move that threatened to paralyze learning in 41 institutions across the country.
In his remarks, Ogamba said the government had acted in good faith by releasing the Ksh. 2.5 billion and assured lecturers that the administration remained committed to fulfilling the “Return-to-Work Formula” signed in earlier negotiations. He appealed to UASU to give dialogue a chance, stressing that students and parents should not be punished through a nationwide strike.
The conflict between UASU and the government highlights long-standing tensions over funding for higher education. The union argues that lecturers have been repeatedly shortchanged in agreements that were meant to improve their pay and working conditions. Delays in implementing CBAs, coupled with the failure to settle arrears, have made the union skeptical of the government’s promises. For its part, the government maintains that it is constrained by limited resources but is still taking steps to meet its obligations.
The standoff has left students anxious. Many fear that if lecturers down their tools, academic calendars will be disrupted, exams delayed, and graduations pushed forward, further compounding challenges in an already strained education system. Parents and guardians, too, are watching closely, hoping that the dispute does not escalate and force them to bear the cost of prolonged disruptions.
For the lecturers, the release of Ksh. 2.5 billion is a partial victory, but the larger question is whether the government will clear the outstanding Ksh. 3.27 billion in full and within a clear timeline. Union leaders have signaled that while they welcome the payment, they will be looking for firmer guarantees before withdrawing the strike notice.
The next few days will be critical. If UASU calls off the strike, it could create room for fresh negotiations and a roadmap for clearing the arrears. If it does not, Kenya’s public universities face the possibility of a shutdown that would affect thousands of students nationwide.
For now, the release of the funds represents progress, but whether it is enough to avert industrial action remains uncertain. What is clear is that both sides will need to find common ground quickly to protect the future of higher education in the country.
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