The government has released KSh3.8 billion to universities to clear part of the longstanding salary arrears owed to lecturers under the 2017-2021 collective bargaining agreements (CBA), signalling a push to stabilize the higher education sector.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said the payment covers a portion of the Sh7.9 billion owed, with the balance scheduled for the 2026-2027 financial year.
Announcing the disbursement during Kenyatta University’s graduation on Friday, Ogamba underscored the need to resolve disputes that have repeatedly disrupted learning and research. “The recent industrial action by our dedicated staff, though unfortunate in its timing and consequences, highlighted a very legitimate concern, the timely negotiation and proper implementation of the signed agreements,” he said.
Ogamba noted the first instalment hit university accounts ahead of schedule, adding that institutions should deploy the funds promptly. “It hit your university accounts yesterday (Thursday), and it is appropriate that we now have something to do or to use,” he said.
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The CS reaffirmed the government’s commitment to concluding the 2025-2029 CBAs without delay to end the cycle of industrial unrest. Ogamba urged universities to remain focused on research and innovation through three priority actions: adopting digital teaching for accessible learning, leveraging data‑driven research to tackle complex challenges, and implementing agile digital systems to replace slow bureaucracies.
“By focusing relentlessly on this innovation agenda, this university will continue to produce not just graduates, but digitally fluent leaders equipped with transversal skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and ethical digital citizenship necessary to lead Kenya’s economic transformation,” Ogamba said.
He linked staff welfare directly to educational quality, calling for lasting industrial harmony across the sector. “The government is fully committed to industrial harmony, because university staff are the engine of our education, and their welfare dictates the quality of education that we deliver as a country. We must, and we will break this cycle of industrial strife and build an environment of trust and harmony in our institutions all the way from basic education to higher education,” he said.
By Masaki Enock
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