The ongoing strike by public university academic staff is set to escalate after negotiations between university workers’ unions and the government over Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) ended without a resolution.
The meeting involving the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) and the government’s Inter-Ministerial Committee failed to reach an agreement on the disputed 2025–2029 CBAs.
UASU said the government presented a counter-proposal that was largely similar to the offer made on October 1, 2026, which the unions had rejected as inadequate.
The absence of the National Treasury further complicated the negotiations, with the ministry reportedly tendering its apologies despite its central role in addressing the funding issues underlying the dispute.
Following the collapse of the talks, UASU maintained that the government must present a credible counter-offer and conclude the 2025–2029 CBAs to resolve the impasse.
The union is also demanding a firm government commitment to fund public university staff salaries through the Exchequer, arguing that a clear financing framework is necessary to implement the agreements.
UASU said the failure to make meaningful progress had left the unions with no option but to intensify industrial action.
The academic staff strike will therefore continue and be escalated until the unions’ demands are addressed.
The unresolved dispute threatens to prolong disruptions in public universities, with the prospect of further industrial action placing additional pressure on efforts to restore normal academic activities.
The latest breakdown in negotiations leaves the government and university workers’ unions facing renewed pressure to reach an agreement on staff remuneration and funding.
