The Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) sitting at Milimani, Nairobi, has issued fresh directions in a labour dispute involving the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), and the Ministry of Education (MoE).
The matter, which also involves five other parties, centres on contentious issues related to collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), pay disputes, and working conditions for academic staff in public universities.
In an order signed by Justice Stephen Radido on September 22, 2025, the court directed that the motion filed on September 19, 2025, together with supporting submissions, must be served by September 26.
The respondents, including the Ministry of Education and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), have until 3 October to file and serve their responses.
The case will then be mentioned for further proceedings on October 6, 2025.
The case, registered as ELRC CBA/E214/2025, is expected to test the boundaries of negotiation frameworks between university staff unions and government agencies.
At the centre of the dispute is UASU’s demand for the full implementation of agreed CBAs, which union leaders say have been delayed or inadequately funded, leading to persistent discontent among lecturers and non-teaching staff.
READ ALSO:
Irate parents shut down school in Meru, call for head teacher’s transfer
The Ministry of Education, on its part, has cited budgetary constraints and competing national priorities under the government’s current fiscal framework.
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission has also been accused of interfering with negotiated agreements by introducing ceilings that unions argue undermine the spirit of collective bargaining.
This court battle takes place against a backdrop of recurring strikes and go-slows in public universities, with lecturers protesting delayed salary reviews, stalled promotions, and underfunding of the institutions.
University managers, represented by IPUCCF, have maintained that only court-supervised resolutions can unlock the stalemate and ensure continuity in academic calendars.
The October hearing is therefore being closely watched by education stakeholders, students, and policymakers.
Justice Radido’s directions now put pressure on all parties to prepare comprehensive submissions that will guide the court in determining whether the government has met its obligations under existing labour agreements or whether the unions’ claims of neglect hold ground.
University lecturers under the umbrella of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) commenced a nationwide strike late last week, demanding fulfilment of outstanding arrears and full implementation of past collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).
The strike has paralysed operations in public universities, with lectures halted, exams postponed, and students left in limbo.
The government has pushed back, with Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba ordering lecturers to resume work or face disciplinary action, including being cited for contempt of court, after the Employment and Labour Relations Court suspended the strike and ordered the parties to return to negotiations.
However, the lecturers say the partial release of Ksh 2.5 billion is insufficient, and the unresolved principal arrears continue to obstruct a lasting resolution.
By Joseph Mambili
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
>>> Click here to stay ahead with the latest national news.
