Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has urged university lecturers to suspend their strike and resume classes, saying the government has demonstrated goodwill in addressing their grievances.
Speaking in Kwale Couty, yesterday, CS Ogamba said the government has demonstrated interest in clearing arrears amounting to Ksh7.9 billion and begin talks on the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
“I appeal to the lecturers to call off the strike and allow learning to continue. Let us engage in discussions on the 2025–2029 CBA separately, and give yourself a month or two months as we seek a long-term solution,” he said.
He disclosed that on Monday, November 3, 2025, representatives from the Ministry of Education, the National Treasury, and the lecturers’ union will meet at Parliament to deliberate on ways to resolve the dispute.
CS Ogamba further urged lecturers to accept the government’s proposal to clear the arrears in phases, noting that immediate full payment was not possible due to limited resources.
According to him, the government plans to pay 50 percent of the arrears in November, while the remaining balance will be settled by July 2026.
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He explained that since the arrears are a historical debt, they were not included in the 2025–2026 budget, and paying the entire amount now would disrupt other critical government programs.
“The government intends to reallocate funds through a supplementary budget to pay 50 percent of the arrears this year, and the balance will be factored into the 2026–2027 financial year,” he said.
The CS cautioned that prolonging the strike is unlawful, citing a court order that had already declared it illegal.
He emphasized the need for dialogue and peaceful engagement, saying the strike only punishes innocent students who have no role in the dispute.
“The strike continues to hurt innocent students who are not part of this matter,” he said.
CS Ogamba noted that most of the arrears date back to 2017, long before the current students joined university.
He commended students for their patience and calmness, assuring them that the government is committed to finding a lasting solution to the impasse.
By Mwajabe Omar
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