UASU demands immediate release of Ksh7.9B in university arrears
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has called for the urgent release of Ksh7.9 billion owed to university staff, following the adoption of a report confirming the amount as legitimate arrears arising from the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Speaking after the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) on October 24, 2025, UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga said the union’s position on the disputed figure had been vindicated.
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The forum’s report, now presented to the technical committee overseeing CBA implementation, was signed by senior university and government officials.
Wasonga noted that the report had resolved longstanding controversy over the actual amount owed, which had been a persistent point of contention between university dons and the government.
“The union therefore calls upon IPUCCF and the Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury, to immediately release the Ksh7.9 billion to our members, in compliance with the court judgement and registered CBAs,” Wasonga said.
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He further accused the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) of misleading the government by presenting inaccurate figures.
“SRC has continued to produce misleading estimates such as Ksh624 million, which not only misinformed the Ministry of Education and the Treasury but also destabilised the higher education sector, causing hardship to staff and students,” he said.
KUSU
Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) Secretary General Charles Mukwaya echoed the sentiments, blaming government agencies for triggering the ongoing strike by challenging agreed figures in court.
“It is the government and its agencies that caused this strike. They must now take responsibility and release the funds,” Mukwaya said.
The report, endorsed by Vice-Chancellors Committee Chairperson Prof. Daniel Mugendi and IPUCCF JNC Co-Chairperson Fred Barasa, reaffirmed the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) judgment of January 15, 2021.
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That ruling set the total financial obligation under the CBAs at Ksh16.57 billion, inclusive of salary arrears and pension liabilities—a figure later upheld by the Court of Appeal in March 2025.
UASU said the findings not only validated its stance but also discredited SRC’s earlier claims, which it termed misleading and disruptive to the sector.
“The IPUCCF report aligns with the Attorney-General’s opinion affirming the enforceability of the CBAs and confirms Ksh7.9 billion as the correct figure owed to staff,” the union stated.
UASU maintained that its members would not sign any return-to-work formula unless the full amount is released.
