Inside Ksh.20 billion deal that ended lecturers strike

After four weeks of disrupted learning, lecturers in public universities are expected back in class on Monday following a Ksh.20 billion agreement with the government on the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Friday's announcement marked the end of four weeks of industrial action that paralysed teaching, learning and research in public universities.

Lecturers downed their tools on October 2, protesting delays in the implementation of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement, outstanding salary adjustments and other longstanding labour grievances.

Negotiations between the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum yielded a Ksh.20 billion funding package to implement the four-year CBA.

"Today’s agreement is a compromise, and reaching it was not easy. In making concessions, UASU carefully balanced the plight of students with the fundamental rights of academic staff to dignified working conditions, collective bargaining and pension security," said UASU Sec Gen Constantine Wesonga on Friday.

Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr Beatrice Inyangala added, "This agreement paves the way for immediate resumption of teaching, learning and research and other academic programmes across our universities. I wish to emphasise that this resolution is part of an ongoing process."

Under the agreement, the Ksh.20 billion will be disbursed in three tranches over three financial years, beginning with Ksh.6.7 billion in the 2026/2027 financial year, Ksh.6.7 billion in 2027/2028 and Ksh.6.6 billion in 2028/2029 financial year.

Basic salaries will increase by 3.5 per cent annually for four years, backdated to July 2025, alongside an automatic annual increment of five per cent.

The deal also provides for increased commuter, leave, passage and baggage allowances, as well as payment of accumulated salary and allowance arrears.

The agreement further protects lecturers from victimisation for participating in the strike, with all disciplinary action initiated during the industrial action deemed withdrawn.

Contract staff have also been assured that their participation in the strike will not prejudice contract renewals.

"We have now achieved the objectives of our strike. The strike is over. Prepare to go to class. From Monday, the lecture halls will be flowing with lecturers," said Wesonga.

The two sides have also agreed to implement programmes to recover the four weeks of lost learning time following the end of the lecturers' strike.