By David Ochieng
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has appealed to university lecturers across the country to resume teaching and allow ongoing dialogue with the government to continue, saying the interest of students should come first.
Speaking on Saturday, Ogamba revealed that the government has already released KSh 2.73 billion as part of the lecturers’ pending arrears — a gesture he described as a sign of good faith in efforts to end the ongoing strike.
“Let us put the interests of our students first. Dialogue is ongoing, and the government remains committed to honoring its obligations,” Ogamba said.
The Cabinet Secretary also reminded the lecturers of the court order barring the strike and urged them to obey the law as discussions on their grievances continue.
However, the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has rejected the government’s partial payment, insisting that lecturers are owed a total of KSh 7.9 billion and that all arrears must be cleared before they return to class.
The lecturers’ strike has now entered its third week, leaving thousands of university students idle and causing major disruptions in the academic calendar.
Education analysts warn that the prolonged standoff could have long-term effects on higher education, with final-year students likely to face delayed graduations if learning does not resume soon.
Meanwhile, a petition calling for the impeachment of Education CS Julius Migos Ogamba has been formally submitted to the National Assembly for consideration.
The petition accuses Ogamba of incompetence in handling the education docket, citing his failure to effectively resolve the lecturers’ crisis and other management issues within the ministry.
Despite mounting pressure, Ogamba insists that the government is committed to fulfilling its part of the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and urged all stakeholders to embrace dialogue for a lasting solution.
© Kisasa News | 2025
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