Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has expressed optimism that the ongoing lecturers’ strike will be resolved within the week.
The strike, which has paralysed learning across several institutions, stems from disagreements over the implementation of the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and pending arrears.
However, speaking on Monday, October 13, the CS said the government and university unions are nearing a breakthrough following extensive negotiations.
Ogamba revealed that talks between the lecturers’ unions and government agencies are progressing well, with both sides closing in on an agreement.
"We met with the University union over the weekend in Machakos to work out the issues of the 2017–2021 CBA, and they also have another team that is negotiating the 2025–2029 cycle," he said.
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Ogamba added that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) had already made a substantial offer to settle the arrears in dispute, and a final report is expected soon to guide the next steps.
"We are hoping that they will make a report today to determine how much money is outstanding, and then we will give the way forward. The university lecturers were demanding Ksh7.9 billion, but the SRC has said that it has paid Ksh7.2 billion, meaning that the balance is a balance of Ksh624 million," he added.
For weeks, lecturers have been on strike insisting that they will not return to class until their concerns over the CBAs are addressed.
They argue that the government still owes them Ksh7.9 billion from the 2021 CBA.
However, in an interview on Saturday, October 4, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi distanced his ministry from the lecturers’ strike, saying responsibility lies with the Ministry of Education and SRC.
He rejected claims that the Treasury had failed to play its role, noting that the government had already delivered on its financial commitments.
"In my view, the problem with the lecturers’ strike is not with the Treasury. The issue lies in the lack of understanding between the Ministry and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). That’s where it needs to be resolved," he stated.
Mbadi pointed out that Ksh4.3 billion was released last year under Article 223 before being regularised in the Supplementary Budget.
He added that for the current financial year, Ksh2.7 billion was disbursed in full at the start, even though the allocation had been planned to be staggered.
"Last year, we entered into an agreement and allocated Ksh4.3 billion as agreed. The funds were released under Article 223 and later regularised in the Supplementary Budget. For this financial year, we committed to release Ksh2.7 billion, which we already disbursed at the beginning of the year even though it was supposed to be spread out over the course of the year. We decided to release it in full," he said.
Mbadi also cast doubt on the timing of the lecturers’ concerns, pointing out that the arrears being raised stretch back several years.
"I will also mention that the question of how much was actually owed is something I’ve only heard about. I don’t have the full facts. That matter lies with the Ministries of Education and Labour.
"From what I understand, there were amounts that were supposed to have been paid between 2017 and 2021. I don’t know what the lecturers were waiting for; if those payments were due in 2021 and were not made. I don’t understand why it has taken until 2025 for these concerns to be raised," he added.
