Nairobi – 6 November 2025
Kenya’s university lecturers have ended their 49-day strike, bringing relief to thousands of students whose studies were thrown into disarray.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) announced on Wednesday that it had reached a deal with the government to settle KSh7.9 billion in unpaid salary arrears dating back to the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The decision followed weeks of tense negotiations, protests, and threats of legal action that paralysed learning in all 42 public universities across the country.
“We have agreed on a two-phase payment of the KSh7.9 billion owed to our members,” said UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga, speaking at a press briefing in Nairobi. “I want to apologise to the comrades for the 42-plus days they have lost. Our members have committed to recover all the lost time fully.”
Agreement Brings End to Prolonged Standoff
The deal marks a significant breakthrough in a dispute that had pitted the lecturers’ union against the Ministry of Education for nearly two months.
The strike, which began in early September, halted academic programmes, delayed graduations, and left many students uncertain about when they would return to class.
Under the new arrangement, the government will disburse the KSh7.9 billion in two instalments before the end of the financial year. The Ministry of Education and Treasury are expected to release a joint schedule of payments in the coming days.
Wasonga, however, cautioned that the union would not hesitate to resume industrial action should the government renege on the deal.
“It is upon the government to honour what we have signed here today,” he said firmly. “If you honour it, there shall be no strike by UASU up to 2030. But if you fail, we will call another strike immediately.”
Students Face Extended Semester
The return to work comes as a relief for students, many of whom had feared losing an entire semester. Universities are now expected to adjust their academic calendars to make up for lost teaching weeks.
“We know the disruption has been painful for students and their families,” said Wasonga. “We are committed to ensuring they catch up on their coursework without compromising academic quality.”
The strike had also sparked wider debate over the funding of Kenya’s higher education system, which continues to face severe budget shortfalls and mounting staff discontent.
As classes resume, both lecturers and students hope the government’s latest commitment will mark a turning point in what has become a recurring cycle of broken promises and walkouts.