University staff unions seek Parliament’s intervention over stalled CBA negotiations.
Three university staff unions want MPs to secure a government funding commitment and help resolve stalled negotiations over their 2025–2029 pay agreement.
A university CBA petition has reached Parliament as staff unions seek funding guarantees amid the ongoing lecturers’ strike. The unions want MPs to intervene in stalled negotiations over the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula presented the petition and referred it to the Education and Labour departmental committees. The petitioners represent approximately 30,000 university employees and also seek action on public university salaries.
UASU Secretary-General Dr Constantine Wasonga Opiyo filed the petition alongside KUSU Secretary-General Dr Charles Mukhwaya and KUDHEIHA National Trustee Odoyo Genga.
University CBA petition seeks written funding assurance
The unions say the government has not provided a written commitment to fund the agreement through the National Exchequer. Without that assurance, they argue, negotiations remain uncertain and staff cannot rely on implementation of agreed employment terms.
According to the petitioners, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission raised the funding gap on September 21, 2026. They say neither the Ministry of Education nor the National Treasury had supplied the required assurance.
The unions also accuse the ministry and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum of breaching earlier return-to-work commitments.
A November 23, 2024 agreement set July 1, 2025 as the deadline to conclude negotiations and implement the CBA. However, the unions say a further agreement on November 5, 2025 gave the parties another 30 days. That deadline also passed without a resolution.
Government reports wide gap in financial positions
Meanwhile, Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala told the Public Accounts Committee that discussions with stakeholders were continuing. She cited competing figures of Sh9.7 billion and Sh98 billion, highlighting the scale of the financial disagreement.
Inyangala expressed confidence that negotiations could narrow the gap and bring the strike to an end.
The unions, however, say their concerns extend beyond salary increases. They also want binding funding commitments, protection of staff welfare and measures supporting the long-term sustainability of public universities.
The nationwide strike began on October 2, 2026, following accusations that government and university councils had failed to honour commitments. It follows a 49-day strike in 2025, which ended with the November 5 return-to-work agreement.
MPs urge dialogue as students face disruption
Meanwhile, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah urged the unions and the Education Ministry to pursue dialogue and exercise restraint. He also asked relevant parliamentary committees to coordinate efforts, drawing on members familiar with the longstanding dispute.
Ichung’wah warned that students bear the cost when industrial action interrupts classes and examinations. The current strike has disrupted teaching schedules and left students facing uncertainty over examinations and completion of their studies.
