SRC, Education Ministry Clash Over Outstanding CBA Balances in Universities as Lecturers’ Continue Strike.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has issued a statement to the National Assembly on the delay in implementation of lecturers’ Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) and the ongoing strike in public universities.
He appeared before Parliament on Wednesday, October 8, and acknowledged that there were errors in the figures for the 2018–2021 and 2021–2025 CBAs but said the government had implemented the latter CBA in full.
According to Education Ministry data, Ksh9.76 billion has been released to implement the 2021–2025 CBA. The release was done in three tranches — Ksh4.3 billion for October 2024 to June 2025, Ksh2.73 billion for 2025/2026 Financial Year and Ksh2.73 billion to be released in the next financial year.
He made the remarks in response to a question by Gilgil MP Martha Wangari who wanted to know what the Ministry of Education was doing to end the impasse with university lecturers.
The strike by University Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) has paralysed academic activities in public universities leaving thousands of students unable to resume learning.
Cabinet Secretary Ogamba also said the 2018–2021 CBA is still pending because of divergent positions between the unions and Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). The unions are demanding Ksh7.9 billion while the SRC says only Ksh624 million is outstanding after adjustments.
He described the difference as a matter of interpretation and said the Ministry of Education will resolve the issue through dialogue and the matter is already under conciliation as per the Employment and Labour Relations Court directive.
In a separate press conference in Nairobi on the same day, UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga said SRC was undermining the negotiation process. Representing UASU, KUDHEIHA and KUSU, Wesonga said SRC had gone beyond its advisory role and was interfering with lecturers’ collective bargaining with their employer.
“As per labour conventions we are supposed to negotiate with our employer. But SRC is supposed to give advisory but the way they are giving that advisory, it seems they don’t allow workers to negotiate with their employer,” Wesonga said.
MPs also faulted the Ministry for issuing contradictory positions. Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gesario told the Ministry to follow existing advisories noting that the Office of the Attorney General had already directed that balances under the 2017–2021 CBA be paid.
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“This is not the first time the Ministry has contradicted itself. The Office of the Attorney General has already advised that balances owed under the 2017–2021 CBA be paid. Our young people are at home, and lecturers are on the streets,” Gesario said.
In summary, Cabinet Secretary Ogamba said the Ministry of Education had settled most of the obligations under the 2021–2025 CBA and that negotiations for the 2025–2029 CBA will start once the Ministry receives guidelines from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
SRC, Education Ministry Clash Over Outstanding CBA Balances in Universities as Lecturers’ Continue Strike.
