UASU Proposes 80–20 Formula in Final Bid to Resolve Lecturers’ Pay Dispute, Treasury Warns of Rising Wage Bill Pressure.
A glimmer of hope emerged in the two-month lecturers’ strike after the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) indicated that they’re now willing to give a rethink to a phased payment arrangement for the Sh7.9 billion in salary arrears owed to them under the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The UASU, who had been adamant on a lump-sum settlement up until now, are now open to exploring a two-phase payment proposal following the government’s revisions to its initial three-phase offer.
The government had initially proposed paying the arrears off in three instalments before scaling that back to two equal payments of 50% each, but the union is now pushing for an 80-20 payment formula.
UASU Secretary-General Dr Constantine Wasonga came in before the National Assembly Education Committee on Tuesday, saying that the union is prepared to reevaluate their stance in order to get the learning in public universities back on track.
“At the very least we are willing to accept 80-20. So the government pays 80 percent up front, that’s about Sh5 billion & the remaining 20 percent in FY 2026/2027. That’s our absolute minimum if we want to get learning back in our universities”, Dr Wasonga said.
Wasonga also demanded an apology from the Ministry of Education for dismissing the union’s Sh7.9 billion computation as previously being out of line, this has since been independently verified as correct.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, meanwhile, is appealing to UASU to simply accept the 50-50 offer so that they can get the public universities reopened – these have been shut since the strike began on 17 September 2025.
“Now that we don’t argue with the overall figure the 2017-2021 CBA, all we’re looking to agree on is the payment arrangement given that this is a substantial amount that wasn’t budgeted for in the current year”, said Mr Ogamba.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi backed up the Education CSs stance saying that the fact that the Sh7.9 billion amount had been independently verified by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) is there for everyone to see. He however warned that the state’s wage expenses have gotten to unsustainable levels.
“While we care for our public university staff, we also need to be realistic that we can agree on a formula that doesn’t put too much strain on our purse”, Mr Mbadi stated.
He further revealed that the government’s wage bill has jumped from 16 percent of tax revenue in 2013 to over 40 percent in 2025 with monthly expenses of Sh80 billion, that’s Sh960 billion annually.
“If we don’t watch out we’ll be crowded out of capital spending – that will just stall the economy & ultimately we won’t be able to pay salaries or cover anything else”, he warned.
He added that the Treasury, after having a word with everyone, agreed to fund the 2017–2021 CBA in two instalments of 50% each in FY 2025/2026 and FY 2026/2027 but only because of fiscal constraints.
“Kenya came really close to defaulting on a loan last year & while our economic stability is improving we need to keep a close eye on it & not undo the progress we’ve made”, he said.
IPUCCF asks Parliament and Treasury to allocate funds to end the impasse.
“We urge the Committee to support the Ministry of Education, National Treasury and SRC to provide the necessary budgetary allocation so that we can settle this once and for all,” said IPUCCF Joint Negotiations Committee Chair Prof Fred Simiyu Barasa.
National Assembly Education Committee Chairperson Julius Melly asked both parties to compromise, citing the students and parents who are suffering.
“I urge UASU and Education CS not to make the implementation a big issue because it’s just six months away. For the sake of our children and parents who have paid rent for two months while students are idle, let’s close ranks,” said Melly.
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He promised that the Committee will prioritise the allocation of Sh3.85 billion as the first charge for the 2017-2021 CBA arrears in the FY 2026/2027 budget.
UASU and Ministry of Education will meet to agree on a return-to-work formula that will allow for the resumption of learning in public universities.
UASU Proposes 80–20 Formula in Final Bid to Resolve Lecturers’ Pay Dispute, Treasury Warns of Rising Wage Bill Pressure.
