The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has called on the Government of Kenya and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) to immediately release KSh 7.9 billion owed to staff in public universities under the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
In a statement released in Machakos on Friday, 24 October 2025, UASU announced that the IPUCCF Technical Committee had presented its official report confirming the union’s long-standing position on the arrears. The report, signed by Prof. Daniel Mugendi, the Chairperson of the Vice-Chancellors Committee, and Prof. Fred Barasa, Co-Chairperson of the IPUCCF Joint Negotiations Committee (JNC), affirmed that the outstanding balance owed to public university staff stands at KSh 7.9 billion.
According to the statement, “the IPUCCF Technical Team has concurred fully with the Union’s position that the outstanding balance owed to staff of public universities is KSh 7.9 billion.”
UASU noted that the report aligns with earlier legal and institutional decisions affirming the validity of the union’s claims. “The Union has noted that the report concurs with the Union’s position that the outstanding balance owed to university staff is KSh 7.9 billion; affirms the ELRC judgment of 15 January 2021, which established the total financial obligation under the 2017–2021 CBAs as KSh 16.57 billion inclusive of salary arrears and pension liabilities; and aligns with the Court of Appeal decision of March 2025,” the release states.
The union also welcomed the report’s endorsement of the Attorney General’s April 2025 opinion.
Attorney General opinion confirmed the enforceability of the CBAs, and its recognition of the Joint Technical Committee’s computation of arrears for the 2017–2021 cycle.
“The report agrees with the opinion of the Attorney General issued in April 2025, affirming the enforceability of the CBAs and validating the KSh 7.9 billion as the correct figure owed to university staff,” reads part of the document.
UASU said the report also vindicates its position that previous figures advanced by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) were inaccurate. “The report confirms that the SRC workings, which produced misleading figures such as KSh 624 million, were wrong and misinformed the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury and destabilised the higher-education sector, inflicting significant hardship on staff and students,” the union stated.
The statement added that the union’s long struggle for recognition of the legitimate arrears had finally been validated. “The report vindicates the Union’s consistent position that the outstanding balance is KSh 7.9 billion,” it declared.
READ ALSO:
Kisumu National Polytechnic set for phased reopening after student unrest
Following the release of the IPUCCF findings, UASU issued an urgent call to action directed at both government and university councils. “The Union therefore calls upon IPUCCF, the Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury, to immediately release the KSh 7.9 billion to our members in compliance with the court judgment and registered CBAs,” the statement read.
The union also pressed for swift progress on future negotiations. “The Unions further call upon IPUCCF to expedite the negotiation, signing, and registration of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs),” the communiqué added.
UASU warned that failure to act would prolong the instability that has plagued the higher-education sector. “These actions will go a long way in restoring industrial harmony across public universities,” the statement emphasised, cautioning that “this is not the time for further delay or indecision.”
In conclusion, the document urged the government to meet its legal and moral obligations without hesitation. “The Unions therefore urge the IPUCCF and the Government to act immediately and honour their obligations,” the statement concluded.
Dr Constantine Wasonga, the UASU Secretary General, signed off the release with a message of solidarity to union members, reiterating the union’s enduring resolve: “Solidarity forever.”
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
