The university lecturers’ strike has been complicated by misinformation. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has shut down a viral letter claiming the government had approved the strike to go on until January 2026. Ogamba has labeled the document as fake and asked the public and students to disregard the baseless claims that have caused confusion.
The Real Crisis: Unpaid CBAs and Unwavering Resolve
The actual crisis which has paralysed learning since mid-September 2025 is the government’s failure to honour long standing financial commitments to the academic staff.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) are resolute. They say partial payments and promises are not enough and will continue the strike until the outstanding debts from the previous Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) are fully settled.
| Union Demand | Amount Owed (approx.) | Status |
| 2017–2021 CBA Arrears | Ksh7.9 billion (The unions’ figure) | Remains largely unpaid despite court orders. |
| 2021–2025 CBA (Phase II) | Ksh2.73 billion (The government’s figure) | Government claims to have disbursed Ksh2.5 billion, but unions insist the funds have not fully reached members’ accounts. |
| 2025–2029 CBA | New Negotiation | The unions demand immediate commencement, negotiation, and registration of the next CBA. |
Ignoring the Court: The Standoff Continues
The Employment and Labour Relations Court had ordered the suspension of the strike on September 18, 2025, directing both parties to go back to the negotiation table in good faith. But the lecturers have defied this order, accusing the government and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) of consistently breaching previous agreements. The unions say the government cannot negotiate its way out of a court judgment that demands payment.
CS Ogamba has warned the striking lecturers of contempt of court but the unions are unfazed, prioritising the settlement of their long overdue dues.
Students in the Crossfire
The biggest casualty is the student body, especially first years whose academic year has been disrupted. With their education on hold and the calendar in disarray, some students have threatened to join the lecturers in the protests demanding an immediate solution to an issue that is affecting their future.
The swift shutdown of the fake letter by CS Ogamba was necessary to stop the misinformation that had caused panic. But the underlying crisis of unpaid dues remains. Until the government and the unions can show a credible commitment to a fair and full payment, the crisis in Kenya’s public universities will continue.
