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University lecturers are urging Parliament to protect Treasury funding for their 2025–2029 CBA and reject proposals to finance staff salaries through student fees.
UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga said on Thursday that the strike followed the failure by university councils, the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury to honour a Return-to-Work Formula signed in November 2025.
The review also showed that Multimedia University, Technical University of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and the University of Eldoret were among institutions whose cash holdings were falling at a fast rate.
Under the PSC circular issued on March 2, 2026 and later amended on April 28, professors are required to retire at 70 years, down from the previous age of 74.
Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala said on Tuesday that students should not panic over the delay, saying the government would provide direction once the transition to the new system is complete.
The advertised positions include 100 Foreign Service Cadet/Third Secretary Cadet vacancies, senior leadership roles in public universities and a position on the NG-CDF Board of Directors
Speaking on Tuesday during the presentation of a proposal on Kenya's long-term national development vision beyond Vision 2030 at State House, Nairobi, Ruto said the government had abandoned previous university funding approaches after they failed to adequately support institutions and students.
Addressing guests during the installation, the new Vice-Chancellor said his administration will focus on reinforcing the university's identity while ensuring it remains competitive across Kenya, the region and the international academic space.
Figures released by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) show that Kenyatta University received 11,224 students, the highest among all public universities.
The funding model, rolled out after President William Ruto took office, is now facing its toughest challenge since its introduction. Official figures show university admissions have grown from about 70,000 students in 2017 to 202,133 placed this year, an increase of more than 300 per cent in less than a decade.
The changes, published in a Gazette Notice dated June 26, 2026, touch on higher learning institutions, national polytechnics, financial regulators, investment agencies, tourism bodies and other state entities, with several officials securing fresh terms while others join the boards for the first time.
The allocation is part of ongoing efforts to expand access to higher education and will benefit students admitted to public universities in 2023, 2024, and 2025
The report reveals that KU recorded a deficit of Sh370.9 million during the year under review, extending a pattern of losses that raises questions about its financial stability.
Applicants for the chairperson role must hold a PhD from a recognised university, while those seeking council membership must have at least a master’s degree.
The reports indicate that the problem affects at least 19 out of the country’s 42 public universities. According to the audit, hiring in these institutions has largely been influenced by the ethnic communities living around them, resulting in clear patterns where one group holds the majority of jobs.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba stressed that universities must strengthen both their physical infrastructure and academic capacity to manage the incoming cohort effectively.
Higher Education and Research Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala said the ministry continues to face a Sh100 billion deficit, even as the government implements the needs-based funding framework introduced by the President.
The review shows that poor governance, missing records, and irregular approvals have put over Sh3 billion of taxpayers’ money at risk, even as institutions grapple with growing budget pressures.
The unremitted amounts cover a range of deductions, including Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Housing Levy, pension contributions, the National Social Security Fund, and the National Hospital Insurance Fund, now known as the Social Health Authority.
The report shows that the University of Eldoret carries the largest share of unpaid fees at Sh890.9 million. Maasai Mara University follows with Sh596 million, while Dedan Kimathi University has Sh584.2 million in outstanding balances. The auditor notes that a significant portion of the debts has remained unpaid for long periods, increasing the risk of losses.
Members of the National Assembly’s Education Committee on Tuesday held a tense sitting with Treasury and Education officials, as well as representatives of university staff, in a push to revive stalled talks on the Sh7.9 billion collective bargaining agreement.
Public university Vice Chancellors have already begun disciplining staff who fail to resume duty. Prof. Daniel Mugendi, Chairperson of the Vice Chancellors Committee of Public Universities and Vice Chancellor of the University of Embu, warned that striking staff are aware of the legal consequences of their actions.
Among the most striking cases is a mystery farmer controlling about 2,000 acres of Egerton University land for maize farming, with the “beneficial owner not known and the value not disclosed.