Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) Secretary General Dr. Charles Mukhwaya confirmed on October 1, 2026, that public university lecturers and staff will initiate a nationwide strike starting October 2, following failed negotiations over the 2025–2029 collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The decision was announced alongside Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) National Organising Secretary Jacob Musembi and KUDHEIHA National Trustee Odoyo Genga during a media briefing. The unions rejected a counter-offer from the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), citing inadequate provisions that failed to address longstanding concerns about salary harmonization and allowance structures.
The dispute centers on the IPUCCF’s latest proposal, which unions argue violates the 2021–2025 CBA by not aligning allowances in the new agreement. The parties had convened at Machakos University for talks, but the meeting collapsed without resolution. Dr. Mukhwaya stated the unions would not accept terms that undermine existing agreements, emphasizing the need for equitable compensation. The IPUCCF’s offer, which included incremental salary adjustments, was deemed insufficient to meet the demands of academic and support staff across public universities.
University management, including the University of Nairobi, has resumed consultations with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to salvage a deal ahead of the strike. However, unions remain firm, with UASU’s Musembi noting that the proposed terms “do not reflect the realities of inflation and service delivery challenges.” The strike threatens to disrupt academic operations, impacting over 200,000 students and staff nationwide. Public universities have warned of potential financial and operational strains if the walkout proceeds without resolution.
The standoff highlights deepening tensions between academic unions and university governing bodies, with both sides citing institutional obligations. While the IPUCCF maintains its position on fiscal constraints, unions insist on adherence to prior agreements. The University of Nairobi’s administration has not yet commented on the latest developments, but stakeholders anticipate heightened pressure on policymakers to mediate the conflict before the strike commences on October 2.