NAIROBI — President William Ruto has questioned why university lecturers are on strike over salary arrears dating back to 2017, insisting that the government has already cleared outstanding payments under previous collective bargaining agreements while negotiations for the new 2025–2029 CBA continue.
The nationwide industrial action by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and other staff unions began on 2 October 2026 after talks over the new CBA collapsed. Lecturers are demanding full implementation of salary increments, improved allowances, medical cover and a clear commitment that university staff remuneration will be funded from the national exchequer rather than individual university revenues.
Speaking earlier this month, Ruto noted that the issues being raised largely stem from commitments made during the previous administration. “Yale wanatuuliza sio ya sasa ni yale yalifanyika 2017. They know we have a solution to the problem,” the President said, adding that his government has been engaging the lecturers and is working to resolve longstanding grievances through dialogue and legal reforms.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has repeatedly urged the lecturers to obey court orders and resume teaching, stating that the government has honoured its obligations by clearing arrears under the 2017–2021 and 2021–2025 CBAs. He confirmed the release of Sh2.73 billion to settle pending dues and said talks on the new agreement are ongoing.
Some progress has been reported, with the government indicating acceptance of a Sh9.7 billion package to settle outstanding CBA issues and discussions underway on a return-to-work formula. Eighteen universities are said to have continued teaching despite the national action. However, UASU leaders, including Secretary-General Dr Constantine Wasonga, have maintained that the strike will continue until a credible, fully funded settlement is reached.
The industrial action has disrupted learning in many public universities for nearly three weeks, affecting thousands of students, including new first-years. The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) has offered to mediate, while the Ministry of Education continues to call for lecturers to put students first and allow negotiations to proceed.