Lecturers Take Pay Dispute to Parliament as Four-Year Salary Row Escalates

Escalation of Dispute Over Unpaid Salaries in Public Universities

Lecturers and non-teaching staff at public universities have escalated their long-standing dispute with the government over unfulfilled pay agreements to Parliament. The issue has led to a four-year impasse, significantly impacting higher education institutions across the country. The university staff, represented by the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and the Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu), have submitted a petition to the National Assembly, seeking urgent intervention to resolve the situation.

The petition was presented by Uasu Secretary General Constantine Wesonga and Kusu’s Charles Mukhwaya. During the reading of the petition on Thursday, Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss emphasized the prolonged disagreement regarding the actual amounts owed to approximately 30,000 public university employees. The unions argue that the total cost of implementing the 2017–21 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is Sh16.57 billion, including pension and liabilities. This figure contrasts sharply with the Sh8.8 billion calculated by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).

The 2017–21 CBA was signed by the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) and Uasu on October 28, 2019, and was later registered by the Employment and Labour Relations Court. In May 2020, Parliament approved the Supplementary II Budget Estimates for the 2019–20 financial year, which included funds for the implementation of the CBA. These funds were subsequently appropriated under the Supplementary Appropriations Act, 2020.

According to the unions, the National Treasury released Sh6.6 billion to public universities in July 2020 as initial funding, covering part of the arrears in basic salaries. However, the remaining Sh2.2 billion was expected in the 2021–22 budget, but only Sh2 billion was allocated, leaving a shortfall of Sh200 million.

The unions accuse the government of breaching the registered CBA by failing to pay the full arrears, stating that none of the universities have cleared the dues. They took the matter to the Employment and Labour Relations Court, which ruled in favor of the university staff, and this decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal. The court issued interim orders for partial implementation of the CBA.

In addition to resolving the outstanding payments, the lecturers and university staff are demanding the immediate start of negotiations for the 2025–29 CBA. “We will not return to work until even the new 2025–29 CBA is discussed and agreed upon,” they stated, linking the settlement of old arrears to the start of new talks.

The petition has now been referred to the Departmental Committee on Education for consideration, following parliamentary procedure. The committee, chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, is set to meet the National Treasury and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology next week to deliberate on the issue.

Government’s Position and Ongoing Tensions

The escalation to Parliament comes amid a deepening standoff between the unions and the Ministry of Education over the exact amount owed to lecturers. During a recent appearance before MPs, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba stated that the government only owes Sh624 million and is open to dialogue with the unions to agree on how to settle it.

Ogamba explained that the SRC disputes the Sh7.9 billion the unions claim remains unpaid, insisting that Sh7.2 billion was already covered through normal annual salary increments, leaving only Sh624 million outstanding. “The difference in implementation is a matter we are ready to resolve amicably through objective discussions,” he said.

He also mentioned that under the 2021–25 CBA, the government has already disbursed Sh9.76 billion in three tranches. Ogamba described the ongoing industrial action, now in its fourth week, as illegal, citing a September 18, 2025, court ruling that interdicted the strike.