University lecturers have threatened to go on strike in two weeks if the government fails to implement a salary agreement reached last year.
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has given the government until January 15, 2025, to enforce the 2021-2025 collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
According to UASU organizing secretary Onesmus Mutio, the government had committed to implementing new salary scales by December 2024, including arrears for October and November.
Despite a directive from the Principal Secretary instructing universities to prepare for these payments, lecturers did not receive the promised adjustments by the end of December.
The union had previously called off a strike on November 23, 2024, after reaching an agreement with the Ministry of Education.
This resolution came after the government pledged to fully implement the Ksh9.7 billion CBA. The lecturers had initially gone on strike on September 18, 2024, following a breakdown in negotiations, but resumed work on November 25 after signing a return-to-work deal.
Mutio expressed disappointment with the government’s failure to follow through, warning that lecturers would not return to work this time until all outstanding payments were made.
The National Treasury had promised to allocate the full CBA amount in the 2024/2025 financial year under Supplementary Estimates II.
The funds will be released in three phases, starting with Ksh4.3 billion to cover nine months until June 2025, followed by two installments of Ksh2.7 billion each.
