Amanze Chinonye
Lecturers and other staff at Kenya’s public universities began a nationwide strike on Friday after unions rejected a proposed pay deal and talks on a new four-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) broke down, Prime Business Africa reports.
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The strike involves members of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA), disrupting teaching and other academic activities across public universities.
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The dispute centres on the proposed 2025-2029 collective bargaining agreement, with the unions rejecting a proposed annual salary increase of 4% and an allocation of about 9.76 billion Kenyan shillings ($75 million) for the agreement.
The unions have said the proposed funding is insufficient to meet their demands, which include higher and harmonised allowances, improved medical cover, enhanced car-loan and mortgage benefits, and the recruitment of additional staff to address shortages.
They are also demanding a government commitment to fund the agreement through the national exchequer. The unions say the absence of a written funding commitment from the Education Ministry and National Treasury has hindered negotiations over the financial terms of the agreement.
The unions have further accused the government and university councils of failing to fully implement commitments contained in a return-to-work agreement signed in November 2025 after an earlier labour dispute.
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UASU issued a seven-day strike notice on Sept. 24 after negotiations failed to resolve the outstanding issues. The breakdown in talks on Thursday left the unions with no agreement before the deadline for industrial action.
The strike could disrupt lectures, examinations, research and graduation programmes if it persists, adding pressure to Kenya’s publicly funded university system, which has faced growing financial constraints as enrolment increases.
The dispute is the latest in a series of labour conflicts in Kenya’s higher-education sector over pay, working conditions, staffing and government funding.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
