Lecturers across Kenyan universities are gearing up for another round of industrial action next week, accusing the government of failing to honor a Return to Work Formula (RTWF) signed in September. The looming strike is set to begin on Wednesday, following threats from the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu), who claim the government has backtracked on its promise of salary increments.
The RTWF, which was signed on September 26, was a result of negotiations mediated by the Ministry of Labour. It promised salary increments of between seven and 10 percent for university staff, effective from October, as part of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). However, the unions say the government has not delivered on its promise to implement the pay hikes.
Speaking to the press at the Uasu offices on Tuesday, Secretary General Constantine Wasonga expressed his frustration over the government’s failure to uphold the agreement. He stated that the unions would not hesitate to call for a strike if the promised pay adjustments are not made by next Tuesday.
“Let the public know we are not going to shy away from calling another strike next week. I want to invite you [the media] next Wednesday, come here to get the direction from the union,” said Wasonga. “If they do not implement this CBA by midnight Tuesday, just come here. I will be here.”
The pay hike was intended to cover the remaining two years of the 2021-2025 CBA and was supposed to be applied retroactively from July 1, 2023. The unions initially went on strike on September 11, forcing the Ministry of Labour to intervene and broker a deal that led to the signing of the RTWF.
Wasonga emphasized that this time, the unions would not return to work unless the salary increments were deposited into their members’ bank accounts. “And this time once I call our members out, they will only go back once the money hits their bank accounts. Don’t try us,” he warned.
Negotiations for the 2021-2025 CBA have been ongoing for years, with unions submitting their proposals as early as September 2020. After lengthy discussions, the agreement reached in September outlined specific pay scales, with assistant lecturers expected to earn between Ksh107,872 and Ksh166,072, and professors receiving between Ksh224,631 and Ksh345,816. Graduate assistants were to earn between Ksh63,647 and Ksh97,988.
Despite the agreement, union leaders say they have yet to see any adjustments reflected in their members’ pay. Wasonga reiterated that the government must adhere to its commitments and warned of the impending consequences.
“Today is Tuesday, by next Tuesday, universities should have given our members the new payslips with 7-10 percent factored,” he said, emphasizing the union’s resolve to hold the government accountable.
The threat of another strike underscores ongoing tensions between university staff and the government, with potential disruptions to learning if a resolution is not found soon. As the deadline approaches, all eyes will be on the government to see whether it fulfills its promises or faces the prospect of another prolonged strike by university lecturers.
