University Lecturers Issue Seven-Day Strike Notice

University lecturers have issued a seven-day strike notice, warning that industrial action will begin on October 2, 2026, unless the government addresses outstanding pay and university funding disputes.

The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) announced the notice accusing university councils, the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury of failing to fully implement an agreement that ended an earlier strike in November 2025.

UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga said lecturers were frustrated by delays in implementing the return-to-work agreement and warned that public universities could close once the strike begins.

The union is demanding payment of outstanding money arising from the 2017–2021 and 2021–2025 collective bargaining agreements, alongside firm commitments on funding for public universities.

Lecturers have also raised concerns over stalled promotions, delayed gratuity payments, pension arrangements and changes to salaries that they say were introduced without sufficient consultation.

Universities Face Growing Financial Pressure

The strike threat comes amid continuing concerns over the financial health of Kenya’s public universities.

UASU says delayed Exchequer releases have made it difficult for institutions to meet their obligations to employees and maintain normal operations.

The union has also rejected proposals that would make universities increasingly dependent on student fees to meet salary obligations, arguing that staff salaries should continue being adequately supported through government funding.

The latest notice could disrupt learning for thousands of university students if talks between the government, university councils and lecturers do not produce an agreement before October 2.

It comes at a time when Kenya is undertaking wider reforms to university financing, student placement and higher education governance.

Attention will now turn to whether the Ministry of Education and Treasury can reach an agreement with UASU before the seven-day notice expires.