University staff unions have called off the 49-day strike after securing a commitment from the government to settle outstanding salary arrears in two installments.
Speaking on Wednesday, November 5, UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga announced that the unions had reached an agreement with the government on the disbursement of Ksh7.9 billion owed under the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The breakthrough deal brings to an end the industrial action that has paralyzed learning at public universities across the country since September, affecting thousands of students.
Under the terms of the return-to-work formula, the government will disburse the outstanding amount in two phases. The first payment of Ksh 3.8 billion will be made between November and December 2025, while the remaining balance will be settled by July 2026.
"We have agreed to be paid in two instalments - one between November and December for 3.8 billion shillings, and the second in June next year. We are happy that we have secured the whole amount," Wasonga stated.
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The agreement involved three university staff unions: the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), and the Kenya Union of Domestic Hotels Educational Institutions Hospitals & Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA).
Addressing concerns about disrupted learning, Wesonga assured students that lecturers were committed to making up for the time lost during the strike. He indicated that the current semester would be extended to ensure students receive complete instruction.
He emphasized that the success of the agreement depended entirely on the government honoring its commitments, adding that compliance would guarantee industrial peace in the university sector until 2030.
However, he issued a stern warning that failure by the government to meet its obligations would result in the immediate resumption of strike action as early as next week.
The industrial action began in September after UASU issued a seven-day strike notice, citing the government's persistent failure to honor CBA obligations worth billions of shillings despite numerous meetings and formal submissions.
Wesonga had expressed frustration that the union had exhausted all dialogue channels, accusing the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) and the government of undermining agreements reached after extensive negotiations.
During the strike, a court order directing lecturers to suspend the industrial action and engage in conciliatory talks with the Education Ministry was ignored by the unions, who maintained their position until a satisfactory agreement was reached.
The breakthrough came following intervention by the National Assembly's Committee on Education on Tuesday, November 4, where Wesonga indicated the union would reconsider the government's offer for the sake of learners.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi had earlier explained that the government was cash-strapped and unable to pay the full Ksh7.9 billion in one lump sum, hence the proposal for installment payments.
