Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migosi Ogamba has the main challenge between the government and University Academic Staff Union (UASU) on the return to work formula for lecturers.

Speaking on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, when he appeared before the Senate to respond to questions in his ministry, Ogamba told senators that the government had agreed with UASU on a 7% and 10% pay increment in resolving the previous strike.

However, Ogamba noted that there is a general deficit of the budget against what is required.

He stated that the agreed pay increment for the lecturers has to be financed since they are required to do an actual calculation to come up with a figure that supports the 7% to 10% increment visa vis the number of years that it has to be done.

Ksh5B difference

Ogamba further noted that the simulation was done but the figure that the government has and the one UASU has, differs by almost Ksh5 billion.

He also pointed out that they are having a discussion with UASU to find out the challenge, and the reason for their calculation.

“There is a general deficit in budget against what is required, and I think it is just in every ministry, and it is because of what has been happening relating to the Finance Bill. We had challenges in ensuring that we meet the obligations that we have. But in terms of the return to work formula, the challenge that is there with UASU and ourselves, and we are having a meeting this afternoon to continue discussing that issue, is we agreed on a 7% and 10% increment. But then that 7 % and 10% increment had to be financed,” Ogamba stated.

“You have to do the actual calculation to come up with a figure that supports the 7% and 10% increment visa vis the number of years that we have to do that. But when that simulation was done, the figure that the government has against the figure that UASU has differs by almost Ksh5 billion. That is the discussion that we are having to find out what is the challenge, and what is the reason for that calculation. Because when we calculate with the 7%, 10% and 4% annual increment, it comes to Ksh4.3 billion. When we put in the figure of Ksh9 billion, the increment moves from 7% and 10% to a different figure.”

Education CS Julius Migosi: The challenge between us and UASU on the return to work formula for lecturers is we agreed on a 7% and 10% increment but the figure that the Government has against the figure that UASU has differs with about Kshs 5 billion. #SenateLive pic.twitter.com/Izj5N0zCaH

— Senate of Kenya (@Senate_KE) October 30, 2024

Lecturers strike

The university lecturers’ strike entered its second day today, Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

UASU has called its members back on strike after the government failed to honour the agreement signed to end the previous strike.

UASU on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, launched the strike at Technical University of Kenya (TUK)

The union says the dons’ strike will only end upon lecturers receiving the agreed 7-10% pay rise.

UASU on Monday, October 28, 2024, announced that it would officially begin its strike with effect from midnight.

‘’I want to tell UASU members wherever they are, just work today up to midnight, after which you should down your tools,’’ the UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga urged.

‘’If you have given a member 7 per cent it will show, we are not dealing with illiterate people who don’t know how to calculate 7 and 4 per cent so you cannot cheat them. You want UASU officials to be part of that manipulation, that one we will not do,’’ he added.

However, the High Court has ruled that the strike is unprotected, urging the lecturers to go back to the negotiation table.