- UASU and KUSU have warned of a nationwide teaching boycott in September unless the government clears outstanding CBA arrears from the 2017–2021 and 2021–2025 agreements.
- Union leaders have flagged delayed promotions and a growing lecturer shortage as compounding the crisis facing public universities.
- The unions have called on the government to release CBA funds, address staffing gaps and provide sustainable financing ahead of the September academic term.
Kenya’s public universities are staring at a possible disruption of learning in September after officials from the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) warned that teaching activities could be suspended unless the government urgently addresses delayed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) payments, staffing shortages and the financial challenges facing institutions.
UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga and KUSU Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya said the government must prioritise payment of outstanding CBA arrears before universities reopen for the September academic period, warning that failure to act could trigger industrial action affecting learning programmes nationwide. They said the delayed implementation of the 2017–2021 and 2021–2025 CBAs remained a major concern, with employees still awaiting benefits negotiated through the agreements, and argued that the dispute was not only about salaries but also about restoring confidence in labour agreements and ensuring university workers receive fair treatment.
Beyond salary arrears, the two officials pointed to delayed promotions as another major challenge, noting that many academic and administrative staff have remained in the same positions for extended periods despite meeting the required qualifications for career advancement. They said timely promotions are essential for recognising professional growth, rewarding experience and motivating employees to keep improving teaching, research and university services.
Wesonga and Mukhwaya also raised concern over a shortage of lecturers in public universities, saying growth in student numbers has not been matched with adequate recruitment of permanent academic staff. The shortage, they said, has increased workloads for existing lecturers, who are expected to teach large numbers of students, supervise postgraduate research, undertake academic projects and perform administrative duties, warning that the resulting pressure could affect the quality of learning, research output and student support services.
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While universities have continued relying on part-time lecturers to plug staffing gaps, the officials argued that such temporary measures cannot replace a properly staffed and sustainable academic workforce.
The union leaders further pointed to inadequate government funding as a major threat to the stability of public universities, saying delays in financing have affected institutional operations, research activities, infrastructure development and universities’ ability to provide quality learning environments. They called for increased and predictable funding to enable universities to meet their obligations and strengthen Kenya’s higher education system.
The threatened teaching boycott has raised concern among students and parents fearing disruptions to lectures, examinations, research programmes and graduation schedules. However, Wesonga and Mukhwaya emphasised that any planned action is not intended to disadvantage students but to push for solutions to challenges that have affected the university sector for years, adding that a motivated and well-supported workforce is essential for delivering quality education and preparing students for national development.
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The union officials have called on the government to urgently release funds for CBA arrears, address staff shortages, accelerate promotions and provide sustainable financing for public universities. As September approaches, attention now shifts to negotiations between the government and university representatives, with the outcome expected to determine whether campuses resume smoothly or whether students face another disruption to the academic calendar.
By Hillary Muhalya
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