Education CS Julius Ogamba arrives to preside over the 29th graduation ceremony of the Moi Teachers Training College, Baringo, September 18, 2025. /EDUMINEducation Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has appealed to university lecturers to suspend their strike and participate in a court-sanctioned conciliatory process.
The industrial action, jointly declared by the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and the Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu), is anchored on three demands.
The release of Sh2.73 billion for Phase Two of the 2021–25 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA); payment of Sh7.9 billion outstanding from the 2017–21 CBA; and the negotiation and registration of a new CBA covering 2025–29.
In a statement on Thursday, Ogamba said the strike, which began on Wednesday, was in bad faith as the government had already met part of the unions’ demands.
He explained that the Sh2.73 billion owed under the 2021–25 CBA had been fully paid and that the unions had been notified of the settlement before the walkout.
“It is regrettable that the industrial action has disrupted teaching and learning in our universities, affecting hundreds of thousands of students despite the good faith and commitment demonstrated by the government,” Ogamba said.
The strike comes just weeks into the 2025–26 academic year, throwing the studies of hundreds of thousands of students into uncertainty.
While launching the nationwide action at Maseno University in Kisumu on Wednesday, UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga insisted the strike would continue until all three demands were fully met.
He dismissed claims that the Sh2.73 billion had been paid, saying he had only received a letter from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) confirming that the payment process had begun, in line with a January 2021 court order requiring the SRC, the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury to implement the 2017–21 CBA in full.
“The only thing I got yesterday was a letter. Dons do not eat letters,” Wesonga said.
“I got a letter from SRC saying they were now going to meet. That is good. They can meet while we are on the streets. But let us be clear — this strike will not end unless our three demands are met in total,” he added.
Ogamba told the unions that the Employment and Labour Relations Court had on Thursday issued a fresh order directing them to suspend their strike and allow dialogue to take place.
“We therefore call upon the university staff unions to call off the current strike in compliance with the order of court, to allow room for the legally-sanctioned conciliation process,” he said.
The CS reaffirmed the government’s commitment to honouring all negotiated agreements and expressed openness to fresh dialogue, saying this would safeguard staff welfare and ensure seamless operations across public universities.
It remains to be seen whether or not Wasonga will soften his stance in light of the court order, or will remain firm to his earlier statement/
“My mind is very clear. I will not call off this strike until the Sh2.73 billion is paid, the Sh8.8 billion arrears cleared, and the 2025–29 CBA negotiated and implemented. Letters will not do. Wire the money,” he said.
