Lecturers’ Strike Set to Begin After Unions Reject 4% Salary Increase

A nationwide university strike is set to begin after lecturers rejected a proposed 4 per cent annual salary increase and demanded implementation of the 2025–2029 CBA.

The dispute escalated after negotiations between university staff unions and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum ended without an agreement on Thursday.

UASU, KUSU and KUDHEIHA workers have maintained that the proposed salary adjustment does not adequately address their demands.

The unions are instead calling for the immediate implementation of provisions contained in the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Teaching and learning activities in public universities are therefore expected to be disrupted from midnight as the unions commence the nationwide industrial action.

Negotiations fail to break deadlock

The latest talks had been expected to prevent the strike by addressing the outstanding issues between university workers and their employers.

However, the negotiations ended without a settlement, leaving the unions to proceed with their planned industrial action.

The disagreement has placed salary and CBA implementation at the centre of the latest labour dispute affecting public universities.

Students in public universities could consequently be affected as academic activities are interrupted by the strike.

TVET trainers give government 14 days

While university workers are proceeding with their strike, technical and vocational education trainers have temporarily stepped back from their planned industrial action.

The Kenya Union of Technical and Vocational Education Trainers has suspended its strike for 14 days to allow further negotiations with the Ministry of Education.

KUTVET said its grievances had remained unresolved despite a Return-to-Work Formula signed on November 5, 2025.

The union has blamed university councils, the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury for failing to honour the agreement.

Curriculum and medical cover among complaints

KUTVET has raised concerns over what it considers a rushed review of the curriculum used in TVET institutions.

The union has also questioned the handling of national examinations by the TVET Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council.

Arbitrary transfers and promotions have further been listed among the issues requiring government intervention.

An enhanced medical cover has also been included among the grievances presented by the trainers.

KUTVET has warned that failure to resolve the outstanding issues could result in another strike.

The union has set October 19, 2026, as the date when its members could down their tools if negotiations fail to produce an agreement.