University lecturers (and related university staff) in Kenya have officially ended their nationwide strike today, Friday, October 30, 2026.

 

The industrial action, led primarily by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), alongside the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA), began on October 2, 2026. It lasted about 28–29 days and paralysed teaching, learning, and research across most public universities (affecting around 35 institutions and hundreds of thousands of students).

The strike stemmed from stalled negotiations over the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Key demands included substantial salary increases (initially sought in the range of 36–68% depending on grade), improved and harmonised allowances (house, transport/commute, leave, book, professional, and others), better medical cover, car loan/mortgage arrangements, and resolution of outstanding arrears. Unions had rejected earlier government offers (around Sh9.7–12 billion, sometimes cited as translating to roughly 3–4% annual increases) as inadequate. The unions’ broader funding ask was reported as high as Sh98 billion.

Previous CBAs (including arrears from 2017–2021 and 2021–2025) and implementation of prior return-to-work formulas were also points of contention. Some universities continued limited teaching, but the majority of public institutions were heavily disrupted, leading to student protests, delayed exams/graduations, and significant anxiety for first-year students and parents.

The Deal and Negotiations

A verbal agreement on a Sh20 billion package was reached on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, after intense talks. These involved Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, National Treasury CS John Mbadi, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, and other senior officials (with reports of facilitation involving the Head of Public Service and inter-ministerial efforts). The government progressively raised its offer (from lower figures around Sh12–16 billion) during a roughly three-hour bargaining session. Union leaders, including UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga, emphasised that the figure was negotiated rather than imposed.

Technical teams worked on documentation, with formal signing of the return-to-work formula and related agreements occurring today (October 30). Wasonga had indicated the official call-off would happen at around 3 pm. News reports and a KTN News broadcast confirmed that UASU, KUSU, and KUDHEIHA have called off the strike following the signing.

Key elements of the Sh20 billion deal (covering the 2025–2029 CBA cycle for basic salaries and allowances, applicable across the involved unions) include:

Funding released in three tranches (approximately Sh6.7 billion in FY 2026/27, Sh6.7 billion in 2027/28, and Sh6.6 billion in 2028/29).

Monthly basic salaries increased by 3.5% annually for four years, effective from 1 July 2025.

Automatic annual increment raised by 5% annually.

Harmonisation and increases for key allowances (e.g., commute, leave, passage and baggage) for most academic staff.

Accrued arrears (for basic salaries and allowances from 1 July 2025 onward) to be paid in phases; some periods aligned with January salaries.

Withdrawal of disciplinary actions related to the strike; no prejudice to contract renewals for those on fixed terms.

Reports note that a top professor’s pay could rise by around Sh74,000 (example figures cited in coverage moved from roughly Sh345,000+ toward higher levels under the adjustments).

Outstanding Issues

The Sh20 billion package addresses core salary and allowance elements but falls short of the unions’ full original demands. Remaining concerns include aspects of medical cover, some components of the broader CBA, and previously flagged arrears (e.g., reports of around Sh7.9 billion linked to the prior CBA cycle, though government statements indicated progress or clearance on earlier periods). Further discussions are expected on these.

Resumption of Classes and Impact

Lecturers and staff are directed to return, with normal teaching expected to resume on Monday, November 2, 2026. Students have been advised to head back to campuses. The end of the strike brings relief after weeks of disruption, though catch-up on lost time, exam scheduling, and academic calendar adjustments will be needed. Some institutions had already maintained partial operations.

Wasonga and other union leaders thanked key government negotiators and apologised to students for the inconvenience while stressing the negotiated nature of the outcome and the need to balance staff rights with learners’ interests. Government officials highlighted commitments to honouring agreements and prioritising education continuity.

This resolution follows a pattern of recurring industrial actions in Kenya’s public universities tied to CBA funding and implementation challenges. Coverage draws from multiple Kenyan outlets (Nation, The Star, Tuko, KTN, and others) reporting the sequence from the October 28 breakthrough through today’s formal call-off.