Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has appealed to lecturers to call off their national strike and resume teaching, after university staff downed their tools on Friday over the implementation of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Speaking during World Teachers’ Day celebrations on Monday, Ogamba said the government has a track record of honouring its obligations, pointing out that all historical arrears under both the 2017–2021 and 2022–2025 CBAs have already been cleared.

“It is with this same spirit that we are committed to timely negotiation and conclusion of future Collective Bargaining Agreements, including the 2025–2029 CBA,” Ogamba said.

He urged lecturers not to disrupt learning over matters the government says it is willing to negotiate.

“I therefore call upon university staff unions and our individual lecturers to reciprocate the good faith, obey the orders of the court and return to work,” he said.

What triggered the strike

The strike, called by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU), followed the breakdown of talks between the unions and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF).

At the heart of the dispute is the unions’ rejection of recommendations sent to the Ministry of Education and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission without prior negotiation. The unions insist that employment terms should be settled through a formal CBA process rather than government circulars.

They also rejected a proposed Sh9.76 billion settlement package, arguing the figure had been arrived at without their input. More broadly, lecturers accuse the government of making unilateral decisions on salaries, terms of service and working conditions.

Teachers push for shorter CBA review cycle

The university strike comes against the backdrop of a separate push by teachers to have the CBA review cycle between the Teachers Service Commission and their unions shortened from four years to two.

President William Ruto has signalled he is open to the idea, though he said any changes would have to wait until the current 2025–2029 agreement runs its course.

“Because we have signed the current one, we will return to the two-year plan when it’s over,” he said, speaking at the same forum.

He likened the request to homework he intends to complete in due course. “You are now telling me two years have passed and you want us to switch to the two-year plan. Just as you give learners homework, so will I take this as homework, and I will come with answers. Leave that to me. I know what I am saying.”

How the current CBA Is structured

The CBA currently in force, signed in July 2025, provides for a phased increase in teachers’ basic salaries over its four-year lifespan. The first phase took effect in July 2025, with the second phase following in July 2026.

Ruto said the 2026/2027 budget has set aside an additional Sh8.1 billion to keep the agreement on schedule.