SRC Under Fire as University Pay Negotiations Hit a Dead End

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SRC Under Fire as University Pay Negotiations Hit a Dead End

The efforts to end the ongoing lecturers’ strike have hit a snag after the latest round of talks between union leaders and the government collapsed, extending the impasse that has paralysed learning in public universities for four weeks.

Speaking at a press briefing in Nairobi on Wednesday, University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary General Constantine Wesonga accused the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) of frustrating dialogue and interfering with the collective bargaining process.

Wesonga, who spoke on behalf of UASU, Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA), said SRC had gone beyond its advisory role by dictating the terms of negotiations.

“Under labour conventions, we are supposed to negotiate directly with our employer. The SRC’s advisory should guide, not control, the talks. Their interference has made meaningful negotiations impossible,” Wesonga said.

The union boss faulted the commission’s decision to cap salary adjustments at Ksh3 billion over four years, saying the allocation was grossly inadequate to meet the needs of thousands of university workers across the country.

“If the SRC insists on setting such limits, they might as well negotiate with us themselves. How can Ksh3 billion for four years be shared among three unions representing all university staff?” he posed.

Unions Slam Poor Working Conditions

Wesonga also accused the government of failing to address long outstanding labour issues, including automatic annual pay increments and remittance of statutory deductions that have been withheld by several universities.

He said many lecturers are without proper medical cover or pension benefits, calling the situation “a deliberate neglect of the teaching fraternity.”

Union officials expressed disappointment that the government’s offer ignored key welfare concerns that have affected higher education for years.

Appeal to Students

The unions appealed to students to remain calm and support the strike, assuring them that the strike was meant to secure long term solutions.

“We plead with our students to bear with us as we fight for sustainable solutions,” Wesonga said. “We want to resolve this matter once and for all so that when learning resumes, there will be no further interruptions.”

With talks officially collapsed, the unions announced plans to expand the strike by holding demonstrations across all public universities in the next few days.

Government’s Response

Education CS  Julius Ogamba, who launched the National Examinations and Assessments season last Friday, said the government had already involved SRC in the negotiation framework for the 2025–2029 CBA.

 Ogamba said IPUCCF had held talks in September but accused UASU of not attending some of the early meetings.

But despite the government’s promises, there seems to be no end in sight, leaving thousands of students stranded as the strike enters its second month.

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SRC Under Fire as University Pay Negotiations Hit a Dead End