University lecturers have warned they could resume nationwide industrial action if the government fails to settle outstanding financial obligations and clarify how their salaries will be funded.
Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga raised the concerns on Thursday, November 5, while appearing before joint parliamentary committees on Labour and Education.
Wasonga told lawmakers that approximately KSh100 billion in unpaid remittances remained outstanding despite a return-to-work agreement that ended the lecturers’ month-long strike. He identified the settlement of the arrears and the proposed use of student fees to pay university employees as the main unresolved issues.
The union wants the government to guarantee that lecturers’ salaries will come from the National Exchequer rather than money collected from students. Wasonga argued that relying on student fees could conflict with the Universities Act, 2012, which provides for university funding through allocations approved by Parliament.
However, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission told the committees that the State Department for Higher Education had proposed using the student-centred funding model to finance the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The position has raised concerns within UASU over how universities will meet their salary obligations.
The warning follows a nationwide strike that started on October 2 and ended on October 30 after the government and the union agreed on a KSh20 billion package covering the 2025–2029 CBA. Lecturers have since resumed work, although discussions on non-financial issues remain incomplete.
Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime told lawmakers that the government expects to conclude the remaining negotiations by February 20, 2027. SRC Chief Executive Officer Ali Abdullahi also said the commission was ready to facilitate registration of the agreement once funding confirmation was received.
Wasonga maintained that the unresolved issues could trigger another nationwide strike if the government fails to provide clear commitments.