The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Vice Chairperson, Cyprian Ombati, has accused the government of neglecting university workers’ welfare by failing to honor key financial commitments, warning that frustration among lecturers is reaching dangerous levels.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Generation, Ombati said the lecturers’ strike, which began on September 17 following the lapse of a seven-day notice issued on September 10, is driven by three long-standing grievances that the government has ignored despite repeated engagements.
“When we gave out the strike notice on September 10, we expected the government to respond within seven days and avert the strike. But as usual, they ignored us,” Ombati said. “By September 17, nothing had been done, so we proceeded with the strike.”
According to Ombati, the lecturers are demanding the immediate payment of Sh7.9 billion owed to university workers under the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). He said the arrears, which cover both teaching and non-teaching staff for a period of 48 months, have been pending for nearly eight years despite a court ruling directing the government to pay.
“That money is owed to about 30,000 university workers. It may sound like a lot, but it has accumulated over many years,” he explained. “The court already pronounced itself, government must pay university workers.”
The second issue, Ombati said, concerns the 2025–2029 CBA, which was supposed to be implemented in July 2025 as agreed with the Education ministry.
“The CS had assured us that our new salaries would take effect in July, but that promise has not been fulfilled,” he lamented.
He also cited pension remittance failures, saying that retirees from institutions such as the Technical University of Kenya have been left destitute after the collapse of pension schemes due to non-remittance of deductions.
“Members were deducted money religiously, but the government never remitted its portion,” Ombati revealed. “Some retirees who served for over 30 years are going home empty-handed, with their families wondering what happened to their savings.”
Ombati faulted the government for misplaced priorities, saying that universities are being starved of funds despite the Sh700 billion education budget.
“If the government can afford a Sh700 billion budget, how can they fail to pay Sh7 billion? That’s just one percent,” he said.
He added that the strike will continue until all demands are met. “Our members have said they would rather have the universities closed than continue working without pay,” he asserted.
UASU maintains that the government must honor its obligations by paying the arrears, implementing the new CBA, and addressing the pension crisis to restore confidence among university workers.
