Nairobi, Kenya – The nationwide strike by lecturers and staff at public universities has officially been called off after two weeks of disruptions to the academic calendar. The industrial action, which began on September 18, stemmed from delays in finalizing the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). It brought together university lecturers, non-teaching staff, and several workers’ unions to protest issues related to salaries, retirement age, and working conditions.
The strike impacted universities across the country, paralyzing learning and administrative operations. However, after extensive negotiations involving multiple stakeholders, the strike concluded with a series of resolutions beneficial to both academic and non-academic staff.
The negotiation process involved a range of influential bodies and unions. The Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) led talks, representing university management, alongside the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE). Three major workers’ unions—Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA)—were key players in advocating for the rights of university employees.
In addition to these stakeholders, government bodies, including the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Education, the Treasury, and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), also participated in the mediation efforts.
Following intensive negotiations, an agreement was reached that provided several concessions for the university staff. Academic and non-academic staff will now receive a salary increment ranging from 7% to 10%. Additionally, an automatic 4% annual salary increase will be applied over the duration of the CBA, which spans from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025.
One of the major wins for academic staff was the harmonization of the retirement age, which will now be set at 70 years for all academic employees, including graduate assistants, tutorial fellows, and assistant lecturers. Non-academic staff, including those working in teaching labs and university libraries, will retire at 65 years. KUDHEIHA members, who represent university workers in various non-academic roles, secured a 10% pay increase, marking a significant achievement for this group.
Despite the resolution of the strike, several issues remain unresolved. To address these lingering concerns, an inter-ministerial committee will convene starting October 1, 2024. This committee will focus on the harmonization of allowances, medical cover, promotions, and other benefits for university staff. This extended timeline ensures that university employees’ concerns will continue to be addressed, reducing the risk of future disruptions.
Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, Dr. Alfred Mutua, expressed optimism following the agreement, stating that the government is committed to ensuring that industrial actions of this nature are avoided in the future. “We will work to ensure that strikes are nipped in the bud and that issues raised by employees are addressed in a timely and effective manner,” Mutua said.
He also emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing university staff grievances before they escalate into strikes. “The two-week strike disrupting learning in public universities across the country has been called off following successful negotiations,” he said. Mutua assured that there would be no victimization of union members who participated in the strike, further reinforcing the government’s commitment to improving labor relations in the education sector.
With the strike officially over, students and faculty members are expected to resume normal operations in universities nationwide.
