This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
On September 26, 2019, salary talks between the Kenyan government and lecturers hit a snag after the lecturers rejected a government offer of a 23-25% salary increase over two years.
The lecturers, who are members of the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu), are demanding a 39-41% increase over four years, citing the rising cost of living and the need for a more sustainable salary structure.
The government had proposed an increase of between Sh83,598 and Sh118,348 for assistant lecturers, and between Sh46,978 and Sh66,978 for graduate assistants. However, the lecturers are seeking new salaries of between Sh406,050 and Sh635,097 for lecturers, and between Sh546,163 and Sh857,384 for senior lecturers.
Uasu Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga expressed frustration with the government's lack of seriousness in the negotiations, stating that the government had failed to factor in a four percent annual increase from 2017 to 2021, and had also ignored the lecturers' concerns about the implementation period.
The government had proposed that the implementation period be effective from July 1, 2019, but the lecturers are concerned that this would leave out two years - 2017 and 2018 - during which they had not received a salary increase.
The talks have stalled, and it is now up to the labour court to decide on the next course of action. The lecturers are determined to fight for their rights and are preparing for another battle in court.
