By David Ochieng
The government has admitted that it is facing serious financial constraints and cannot fully settle the salary arrears owed to public university lecturers at once.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said the National Treasury did not allocate funds in the 2025–2026 financial year to cover the entire amount owed under the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), estimated at KSh 7.9 billion.
“The government’s finances are constrained by the current budget framework. This historical debt was not included in this year’s allocation, making it impossible to pay the entire sum immediately,” CS Ogamba explained.
The Treasury has instead proposed a phased payment plan, beginning with KSh 2.16 billion this financial year, followed by the balance spread across the next two years.
However, the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has rejected the offer, demanding full payment, arguing that lecturers have waited too long for their dues.
Lecturers in various public universities have downed their tools for weeks, paralyzing academic activities across campuses as the strike enters a new phase of stalemate between the union and the government.
The Ministry of Education has appealed for patience and dialogue, saying the government remains committed to honoring the CBA once sufficient funds are available.
