“We Won’t Accept What We Never Negotiated”: Lecturers Reject Sh11.9bn Offer as Strike Talks Collapse

Efforts to end the ongoing university lecturers’ strike in Kenya suffered another setback on Monday, October 26, after negotiations between university staff unions and government officials collapsed over a proposed Sh11.9 billion funding package for the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The unions rejected the government’s latest proposal, arguing that the amount had been determined without their participation in negotiations. The disagreement has further complicated efforts to restore normal learning in public universities, where academic activities have been disrupted since lecturers began their nationwide industrial action on October 2.

The meeting brought together representatives of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA), alongside the government’s Inter-Ministerial Committee.

According to reports, government officials presented a verbal counter-offer of approximately Sh11.96 billion, intended to increase the funding available for the new agreement. However, the unions questioned why the proposed amount was lower than the Sh12 billion offer presented during an earlier meeting.

UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga maintained that the unions could not accept a figure established without their involvement. He argued that the overall cost of the agreement should be determined through negotiations covering the different components of lecturers’ pay and employment benefits.

The union officials also questioned the adequacy of the proposed funding, saying it would translate into an estimated three per cent increase in basic salaries. They argued that such an adjustment would offer limited relief to university employees struggling with the rising cost of living.

Among the issues the unions want addressed are salary increments, house allowances, medical benefits, promotions and other employment-related entitlements. They have also called for an agreement that reflects the needs of university staff over the entire four-year period.

UASU has sought a five per cent annual salary increment alongside automatic annual increments, which it says would bring the overall increase to seven per cent. Wasonga also pointed to house allowances, arguing that they had not been reviewed for 17 years.

The dispute has persisted despite earlier efforts to reach an agreement. University staff unions maintain that the government and university employers have failed to conclude negotiations within the timelines set out in previous return-to-work agreements.

The industrial action has affected learning across public universities, leaving students uncertain about when normal academic programmes will resume. The unions have indicated that lecturers will remain on strike until a satisfactory agreement is reached.

Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime said the government would put its counter-offer in writing, with the parties expected to meet again on Wednesday to continue discussions.

However, the latest breakdown has left the dispute unresolved, raising fresh concerns about the duration of the strike and its impact on students and university operations.

With both sides still divided over funding and the terms of the new agreement, the next round of negotiations will be crucial in determining whether a breakthrough can be reached and learning restored in public universities.

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