The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has called off the nationwide lecturers' strike following a breakthrough agreement with university councils that will see the government provide Sh20 billion to implement the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The agreement, reached on Friday, October 30, 2026, brings to an end industrial action that began on October 2 and disrupted teaching, learning and research activities across public universities.
UASU Secretary-General Dr Constantine Wasonga announced the resolution following negotiations between the union and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), conducted under the auspices of an inter-ministerial committee.
"We have now achieved the objectives of our strike. THE STRIKE IS OVER," the union declared in a statement issued after the negotiations.
Under the agreement, lecturers will receive annual basic salary increases of 3.5 per cent for four years, effective July 1, 2025, alongside an automatic annual salary increment of five per cent.
The government has committed Sh20 billion towards implementing the CBA, with the funds scheduled for release over three financial years.
The first allocation of Sh6.7 billion will be released during the 2026/2027 financial year, followed by another Sh6.7 billion in 2027/2028 and Sh6.6 billion in 2028/2029.
The agreement represents a major development in negotiations over lecturers' remuneration and employment conditions, which have remained central to industrial disputes in public universities.
Salary increases and payment of arrears
In addition to the basic salary adjustments, the agreement provides for the harmonisation and improvement of several allowances for the vast majority of academic staff.
These include commuter allowance, leave allowance, and passage and baggage allowance.
The new salary structure, contained in the UASU 2025–2029 CBA salary tables, provides for progressive increases across academic grades and salary notches.
For example, an academic staff member in Grade 15A, Notch 1, whose basic monthly salary stood at Sh224,631 in 2024/2025, will earn Sh232,494 in 2025/2026.
The salary will rise to Sh240,632 in 2026/2027, Sh249,055 in 2027/2028 and Sh257,772 in 2028/2029.
At Grade 14A, Notch 1, the monthly basic salary will increase from Sh193,182 in 2024/2025 to Sh199,944 in 2025/2026, eventually reaching Sh221,684 in 2028/2029.
The agreement also addresses salary and allowance arrears accumulated during the period covered by the CBA.
According to the union, arrears covering July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, will be paid in three instalments.
Arrears for the period between July 1 and December 31, 2026, will be settled alongside the January 2027 salaries.
The arrangement is expected to provide financial relief to academic staff who have been demanding implementation of negotiated remuneration adjustments.
However, the union acknowledged that reaching the agreement required concessions from both sides.
"Today's agreement is a compromise, and reaching it was not easy," UASU stated.
"In making concessions, UASU carefully balanced the plight of students with the fundamental rights of academic staff to dignified working conditions, collective bargaining and pension security."
Lecturers assured of job protection
A significant provision of the settlement concerns the protection of lecturers and union officials who participated in the industrial action.
The agreement provides for the withdrawal of disciplinary action initiated against employees during the strike.
Academic staff serving on contracts will also be protected against discrimination during contract renewal because of their participation in the industrial action.
UASU said the return-to-work arrangement guarantees that university managements will not victimise employees or union officials for exercising their labour rights.
The union thanked the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury for facilitating the funding required to implement the agreement.
It also commended lecturers for remaining united throughout the industrial action despite the challenges associated with the prolonged disruption.
UASU acknowledged the difficulties experienced by students, whose academic programmes had been interrupted since the beginning of October.
"We also thank our students for their patience and resilience in bearing the disruption to their learning. We invite all students to resume their studies immediately," the union stated.
The industrial action had affected normal university operations, including lectures, research activities and other academic programmes, raising concerns over possible adjustments to institutional calendars.
The dispute arose from disagreements over the implementation of the 2025–2029 CBA and related employment issues.
With the settlement now reached, attention will turn to the timely release of government funding, implementation of the revised salary structure and settlement of outstanding arrears.
UASU has directed all its members to resume teaching, research and other academic duties on Monday, November 2, 2026.
The reopening of normal academic activities is expected to provide relief to students and university administrators as institutions work to recover time lost during the strike.
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