A glimmer of hope has emerged in the 48-day nationwide lecturers’ strike after a high-level meeting between the Ministries of Education and Treasury, the National Assembly, and the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) produced a new proposal that could pave the way for a truce.
The talks, convened by the National Assembly Committee on Education on Tuesday, November 4, saw UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wesonga announce plans to convene a special meeting with union members to deliberate on the government’s latest offer.
“For the sake of the children and students of this country, we are going to convene, as the organs of the union, so that we can reconsider,” Wesonga stated after the meeting.
The meeting, aimed at breaking the deadlock, brought together all key stakeholders in a bid to end the industrial action that has crippled learning in public universities for nearly two months.
During the discussions, the government proposed a 50-50 phased payment plan to settle the Ksh7.9 billion in salary arrears owed to university lecturers. However, Wesonga rejected the offer, insisting that the union’s irreducible minimum was an 80-20 arrangement.
“The worst of the worst is 80-20. They give us 80 per cent and retain 20 per cent. That’s Ksh5 billion now, and Ksh2 billion can go to the 2026/2027 financial year,” Wesonga asserted.
Wesonga also demanded an official apology from the Ministry of Education for what he termed as intimidation and threats directed at striking lecturers. He further accused the Inter-Public Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) of mishandling staff grievances and demoralizing academic personnel.
Despite Wesonga’s firm stance, Treasury officials present at the meeting maintained that an immediate full payout was not feasible, citing financial constraints and procedural requirements for fund release.
It remains unclear when UASU will convene its internal meeting to review the proposal or whether the union will soften its position on the payment structure.
The ongoing strike, which began in September, was triggered by the government’s alleged failure to fully implement the 2017–2021, 2021–2025, and 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) between the union and the state.
Wesonga, in a prior seven-day strike notice, accused the government of repeatedly ignoring union demands despite numerous meetings and formal submissions.
A court had earlier ordered lecturers to resume work and engage in conciliatory talks with the Ministry of Education, but the directive has largely been defied as tensions persist across public universities.