Kenya’s university lecturers have rejected a Sh12 billion government offer, leaving the nationwide strike that began on October 2, 2026 with no end in sight. The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) walked away from talks on Monday, October 12, in the second round of negotiations to collapse since classes stopped in public universities.
UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga described the counter-offer as “awfully inadequate” and said the unions had rejected it in total. The unions want the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) implemented in full.
What is the lecturers’ strike about?
The unions say the government and university councils have failed to implement the 2025-2029 CBA, even though negotiations have run since last year. They also say the Ministry of Education, the National Treasury and university councils did not honour a Return-to-Work Formula signed on November 5, 2025.
The strike followed the collapse of talks with the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF). Teaching and learning in public universities has been disrupted nationwide since.
What has the government offered, and what do the unions want?
| Issue | Employer / government | Unions |
|---|---|---|
| Annual pay increase | 4% automatic increment | Says 4% is far below inflation, which it puts above 6% |
| Funding | Sh9.76 billion allocation, then a Sh12 billion offer on October 12 | Rejects both; says a four-year CBA cannot be covered by Sh9.76 billion |
| Process | Says arrears under the 2017-2021 and 2021-2025 CBAs are cleared | Wants terms set through negotiation, not circulars |
Wasonga has argued that the 2021-2025 CBA alone consumed about Sh9.7 billion over two years, so the same sum could not stretch across four years. The unions also object to salary and working-condition decisions being made by the Ministry of Education and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission without negotiation.
What has Education CS Ogamba said?
On October 5, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba urged lecturers to end the strike and return to work immediately, saying the government had acted in good faith and that all arrears under the two previous CBAs had been cleared. He asked lecturers to obey court orders and keep negotiating, adding: “Let us not interrupt the education of our students.”
What does the strike mean for students?
With lecturers and support staff off duty, lectures, supervision and administrative services at public universities have been disrupted. No official date has been announced for resumption, and the unions have not named a figure they would accept. Students should watch their university’s official notices for any change to timetables or examination dates.
Separately, the Kenya Union of Technical and Vocational Education Trainers (KUTVET) has suspended its own strike for 14 days to allow more talks with the Ministry of Education. Its members could walk out again after October 19, 2026.
Students dealing with fees and loans can read our guides on what happens if you missed the HELB deadline and the extension of HELB loans to all eligible university students. For the secondary-school exam calendar, see the KCSE 2026 timetable.
For official education notices, see the Ministry of Education.
Frequently asked questions
When did the university lecturers’ strike start?
The nationwide strike began on October 2, 2026, after talks with the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum failed.
Which unions are on strike?
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) are leading the strike.
Why did lecturers reject the Sh12 billion offer?
The unions called it inadequate and want the 2025-2029 CBA implemented in full, rather than a lump-sum package they say was not negotiated.
Has the government said arrears are paid?
Yes. Education CS Julius Ogamba said on October 5 that all arrears under the 2017-2021 and 2021-2025 CBAs have been cleared.
By the 254.ke Newsroom.
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