Uasu Softens Stance, Considers Phased Payment to End Lecturers’ Strike
A breakthrough in the two-month lecturers’ strike may be in sight after Uasu signalled a shift in its stance, saying it is willing to accept a phased payment of the Sh7.9 billion salary arrears owed to lecturers.
The union has long demanded a one-off payment of arrears accrued under the 2017-2021 CBA but now says it is open to a two-phase plan. This comes after the government revised from three instalments to two equal payments of 50% each.
Speaking before the National Assembly Education Committee on Tuesday, Uasu Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga said the union can compromise for the sake of students. “The worst we can accept is 80-20,” he said. “Let the government pay 80% now – about Sh5 billion – and the remaining 20% in FY 2026/2027. That is our bottom line if we are to restore learning in our universities.”
Wasonga added that the Ministry of Education owes the union an apology for earlier dismissing Uasu’s figures which have since been verified as correct.
Education CS Julius Ogamba pleaded with the union to accept the 50-50 offer so that universities can reopen. “Now that the outstanding amount is not in dispute, what we need to agree on is the payment arrangement, given this was not budgeted for,” he said.
Treasury CS John Mbadi echoed similar sentiments, confirming that the SRC had verified the Sh7.9 billion figure. He warned however that Kenya’s wage bill has shot up and now consumes more than 40% of tax revenue compared to 16% in 2013.
“As of January, our monthly wage bill was Sh80 billion. If we are not careful we will crowd out capital expenditure and stall growth,” he said. Mbadi said the Treasury had agreed to fund the CBA in two equal instalments over two financial years to preserve fiscal stability after Kenya narrowly avoided a loan default last year.
IPUCCF urged Parliament and Treasury to allocate the necessary funds to resolve the impasse. “We implore the Committee to support the Ministry of Education and Treasury to provide the requisite budgetary allocation so that we can dispose of this issue once and for all,” said IPUCCF Chair Prof Fred Simiyu Barasa.Chair Julius Melly urged both sides to compromise, saying the students and parents are suffering. “For the sake of our children and parents who have paid rent for two months while classes are suspended, let’s close ranks,” he said.
The Education Committee has allocated Sh3.85 billion for the arrears in the FY 2026/2027 budget. Uasu and the Ministry of Education will meet soon to agree on a return-to-work formula and end the impasse in public universities.
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Uasu Softens Stance, Considers Phased Payment to End Lecturers’ Strike