Public university lecturers in Kenya are gearing up for industrial action as the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has announced a strike set to commence on October 2, 2026. This decision follows a seven-day strike notice issued by UASU, highlighting significant delays in the implementation of their collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The notice, dated September 24, was signed by UASU Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga Opiyo. He stated that union members across all public universities and constituent colleges would withdraw their services until their grievances are adequately addressed.
The strike notice was formally addressed to the council chairs of public universities and constituent colleges nationwide. It was also copied to key government officials, including the Cabinet Secretaries for Labour and Social Protection and Education, as well as all public university vice-chancellors, principals of constituent colleges, UASU chapter secretaries, and the union’s legal representatives, Koceyo & Company Advocates. This broad dissemination underscores the seriousness of the union's demands and the wide-reaching impact of the impending strike.
At the heart of the dispute is the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement. UASU has expressed frustration over the delays in negotiating, concluding, registering, and implementing this crucial agreement. The union has pointed fingers at the Ministries of Education and National Treasury, accusing them of failing to allocate necessary funds to support the CBA. Additionally, UASU has raised concerns about the exclusion of negotiated clauses from the generic human resource instruments for public universities, which are required to be submitted to the Public Service Commission for approval.
Dr. Wasonga emphasized that lecturers would remain off duty from October 2 until the union's demands are met. The strike is expected to have significant implications for students, potentially disrupting academic schedules and delaying the completion of courses. University strikes in Kenya have historically led to prolonged closures, affecting thousands of students and causing ripple effects in the education sector.
The looming strike highlights ongoing challenges in the higher education sector, where disputes over CBAs are not uncommon. Lecturers have often resorted to industrial action to push for better pay and working conditions. As the strike date approaches, all eyes will be on the government and university administrations to see if a resolution can be reached to avert the disruption of academic activities.
