KUSU, UASU: Kenya University Strike Notice Issued Over Stalled CBA

• The Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) have issued seven-day strike notices for Kenyan public universities.
• Both unions plan to begin industrial action on October 2, protesting stalled negotiations for the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
• Reasons for the strike include unfulfilled Return-to-Work formulas, lack of government financial counter-proposals, and absence of funding commitment from the National Exchequer.
• University workers are facing financial pressure from inflation, and unions note other public sector employees already have their 2025–2029 CBAs implemented.
• The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has not received a written commitment for CBA funding from the Ministry of Education or National Treasury.

For legal professionals advising Kenyan public universities or associated government bodies, this situation demands close monitoring.

The Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) has announced its intention to join the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) in a nationwide industrial action, issuing a seven-day strike notice. This development, announced by KUSU on a Friday during a meeting at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu, follows a similar notice issued by UASU for lecturers just one day prior. Both unions are protesting stalled negotiations for the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), with the proposed strike set to commence at midnight on October 2.

KUSU, which represents non-teaching university personnel, cited significant delays in the finalization and registration of its own CBA as the primary driver for its decision. The union attributed these holdups to public university employers and various government agencies, urging the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury to intervene promptly. Dr. Charles Mukhwaya, KUSU's Secretary-General, highlighted the severe financial strain faced by university employees, exacerbated by persistent inflation, escalating living costs, and high fuel prices. He questioned the disparity, noting that other public sector employees had already seen their 2025–2029 CBAs negotiated, concluded, registered, and implemented as early as July 1, 2025, a benefit not extended to university staff.

Meanwhile, UASU's strike declaration stems from the alleged failure of university councils, the Ministry of Education, and the National Treasury to honor a Return-to-Work Formula that was signed on November 5, 2025. Furthermore, the lecturers' union pointed to the government's inability to present a financial counter-proposal for the upcoming 2025–2029 CBA. The convergence of these strike notices from both academic and non-teaching staff unions signals a potential widespread disruption across Kenyan public universities, impacting teaching, administrative functions, and other essential services if the underlying disputes remain unresolved.

At the heart of the impending Kenyan public university industrial action lies the protracted failure to finalize the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreements for both academic and non-teaching staff. A critical revelation from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) on September 21 underscored the gravity of the situation. The SRC disclosed that neither the Ministry of Education nor the National Treasury had provided a written assurance that funding for public universities' CBAs would be sourced from the National Exchequer. This lack of commitment has created a significant hurdle in the negotiation process.

The absence of a clear financial commitment from the government has direct implications for the SRC's role. UASU, the Universities Academic Staff Union, explicitly stated that without such a written guarantee, the SRC is unable to provide the constitutional advice necessary to facilitate the formulation of financial counter-proposals. This impasse effectively stalls any meaningful progress in the CBA negotiations, leaving both unions in a state of uncertainty regarding their members' remuneration.

Adding another layer of complexity, UASU has firmly rejected any proposals to fund academic staff salaries through student fees or other market-based mechanisms. The union maintains that public university lecturers are fundamentally public officers, implying that their remuneration should be a responsibility of the state, not contingent on fluctuating revenue streams from students. This principled stand highlights a fundamental disagreement over the funding model for higher education staff, further complicating the Ministry of Education CBA negotiations and the broader financial landscape for Kenyan public universities.

The coordinated KUSU UASU Kenya university strike notice CBA represents a critical juncture for the nation's public higher education sector. The potential for widespread Kenyan public university industrial action, encompassing both academic and administrative functions, threatens to severely disrupt operations across institutions. KUSU has explicitly warned that a failure to resolve the ongoing dispute could lead to significant operational challenges, impacting everything from student registration to daily campus management.

The frustration among university workers, as articulated by KUSU Secretary-General Dr. Charles Mukhwaya, is palpable. He emphasized that the current economic environment, marked by inflation, a high cost of living, and rising fuel prices, necessitates financial cushioning for union members. The perceived inequity, where other public sector employees have already secured their 2025–2029 CBAs, only intensifies this discontent. KUSU has issued a clear ultimatum, giving the government a seven-day window to re-engage in negotiations and finalize the agreement, with Mukhwaya stating the strike was a forced measure rather than a desired outcome.

For legal professionals advising Kenyan public universities or associated government bodies, this situation demands close monitoring. The impending strike notices and the stalled 2025–2029 CBA negotiations signal potential operational disruptions that require proactive assessment. Lawyers should be prepared to advise on labor law compliance, anticipate dispute resolution strategies, and review contingency plans. Similarly, compliance officers within these institutions must prepare for service interruptions and ensure robust contingency measures are in place to mitigate the impact of the looming industrial action. The gathering of KUSU officials and delegates in Kisumu to plan and mobilize workers underscores the seriousness of their intent, signaling that the unions are prepared to follow through on their strike threats if their demands are not met.

Lawyers advising Kenyan public universities or related government bodies should monitor these strike notices and the stalled 2025-2029 CBA negotiations to assess potential operational disruptions, advise on labor law compliance, and prepare for dispute resolution strategies. Compliance officers within these institutions should anticipate service interruptions and review contingency plans.

Source: Reporting based on original dispatches from Kisumu, Kenya.